Traffic to Google's websites will get a higher priority on the network of the American provider Verizon than traffic to others sites. The deal is the result of ongoing talks between both companies. They need approval to implement the plans.
It is the first time plans are made to break net neutrality for content providers. Before, same carriers broke net neutrality for services when they closed down Bittorent-traffic. Advocates of net neutrality say individual content providers should not get priority over others.
Telecom agency wants control
The American telecom agency FCC is not amused. The organisation wants to keep control over the internet. In April, the FCC lost a case in which it wanted the claim the right to make net neutrality obligatory. After losing the case, the organization started talking with providers. When it became public that Verizon was talking to Google at the same time, FCC cancelled the talks. In the plans of Google and Verizon, the FCC can only see reports of the distribution of datacapacity afterwards.
Digital rights organisations in the US are furious about the plans of Google and Verizon. They are afraid that the plans are only the start of the claim to the power over the internet of large companies. Although Verizon only wants to give priority on the mobile internet, they fear that net neutrality on the general internet will be disposed in the future as well. If Google gets priority, there's less space for other, they argue.
Worse than thought
In very plain speech, the non-profit media organisation Free Press announces its displeasure. "The Google-Verizon pact isn’t just as bad as we feared — it’s much worse. They are attacking the Internet while claiming to preserve it. Google users won’t be fooled."
Free Press wants the American government to take steps against the internet giant and the telco. "President Obama, Congress and the FCC should reject this deal, restore the authority of the agency that’s supposed to protect Internet users, and safeguard Net Neutrality once and for all."