14 DAY TRIAL // Google and Verizon’s proposal of net neutrality rules that aren’t exactly that neutral and only apply to a portion of the internet hasn’t been met with too much enthusiasm, to say the least. Facebook has now chimed in and, completely unsurprisingly, is critical of the whole deal.
“Facebook continues to support principles of net neutrality for both landline and wireless networks,” the company said in a statement.
“Preserving an open Internet that is accessible to innovators — regardless of their size or wealth — will promote a vibrant and competitive marketplace where consumers have ultimate control over the content and services delivered through their Internet connections,” it added.
Facebook and Google actually banded together on the issue of net neutrality last year, a rare act for the two companies which are becoming increasingly adversarial. Things have changed since then and Facebook is one of the first major web company to express its disapproval of the Google - Verizon talks.
Specifically, Facebook argues that the net neutrality principles should cover the wireless space as well as wired connections. Despite claiming otherwise, Google has backtracked on its initial believes and has reached a compromise with Verizon which would exclude wireless connections from the rules the companies have laid out.
This is interesting as, just a few years ago, Google was willing to put $4.6 billion on the line to buy rights to the 700 MHz spectrum just to ensure that any device can connect. Back then, Google strongly believed that especially the mobile market would benefit from net neutrality. Now it says the market is too young and regulation would more likely hurt it.
Besides Facebook, other web companies have been a bit less vocal though some have expressed concerns. “We’ve long supported net neutrality, and although we agree that network operators should be allowed to offer additional services, we are concerned that this proposal appears to condone services that could harm consumer Internet access,” Paul Misener, VP of global public policy at Amazon, said.