Gizmodo is reporting that AT&T sent out a letter to employees encouraging them, along with their families, to protest the FCC’s net neutrality rules. It was said the letter even encouraged the use of the employees private email instead of their company email. For them to stoop this low makes it pretty obvious they are not hip to the idea of net neutrality. Gizmodo later updated their post with the following:
AT&T says that the letter was sent to “U.S. managers only” and that they “were providing important information to our employees, and it was up to them to respond personally. If they use their company email that is fine, too.”
Their reply is pretty laughable as if sending this letter to “U.S. managers only” makes it any better. While I don’t have issues here in Chicago with AT&T’s service, some of their antics really are mind boggling.
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Following up on a rumor earlier today that AT&T would be announcing a new, friendlier policy towards Skype and Google Voice, Skype President Josh Silverman posted on the official Skype blog, saying “Good move, AT&T”:
All of us at Skype applaud today’s announcement by AT&T (in an FCC filing to be published shortly) that it’ll open up its 3G network to Internet calling applications such as Skype. It’s the right step for AT&T, Apple, millions of mobile Skype users and the Internet itself.
Silverman reveals that 10% of all iPhone and iPod touch devices have downloaded the Skype app (which makes roughly 5 million installs, if our math is right), and while they give AT&T the requisite kudos, Silverman states that it’s the government and industry regulation that should ensure open networks — in line with the FCC’s recent move to establish “net neutrality“.
Of course, AT&T announcements and Skype enthusiasm are one thing, let’s see how long it takes to get Skype 3G into the App Store.
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the FCC is set to announce what amounts to “net neutrality” today, something that will make users and technology companies like Google, Amazon, and Apple’s iTunes ecstatic, while roshambo’ing Big Telco right where it hurts.
Basically, net neutrality means data carriers like cable and DLS providers and wireless/mobile telephone companies can’t restrict what travels over their lines or airwaves. Data is data. Disallow SlingPlayer or Skype? Sorry, not allowed.
It’s not all good news for consumers, however, as carriers like the iPhone’s AT&T are already buckling under the existing data load, and allowing bandwidth gulping apps like SlingPlayer could bring down more towers, faster. It could also cause Big Telco to respond by raising their rates.
Also, the proposal would only prevent networks from blocking legitimate websites and services, not those deemed illegitimate (i.e. torrent sites).
Of course, an FCC proposal is a long way from a new network order, and AT&T and other ISPs, as well as those who oppose government regulation on principle, will likely continue to oppose it.
Hit the poll above and let us know what you think.
UPDATE: As pointed out in comments, Android honcho Andy Rubin responds on the Google blog:
Here are the facts, clear and simple: While the first generation of our Android software did not support full-featured VoIP applications due to technology limitations, we have worked through those limitations in subsequent versions of Android, and developers are now able to build and upload VoIP services.
Rubin claims USA Today was made aware of this, but also says “individual operators can request that certain applications be filtered if they violate their terms of service”, which basically means AT&T’s no SlingPlayer, or conceivably any networks no-VoIP policy, would still affect Android, so — okay. Let’s get to it Skype and we’ll see what T-Mo really thinks.
However, Rubin does dream, like all of us (likely even Apple, in public, if asked) of the day when “dumb pipes” are a reality.
Open internet access group, Free Press, is petitioning the US Federal Communications Commission on the issue of Apple, at AT&T’s mandate, restricting Skype and other App Store VoIP applications from running over the 3G network.
Currently, apps like the million downloadedSkype can only run on WiFi, which limits their usefulness as on-the-go communication tools (not everywhere has available WiFi connections, and they don’t switch gracefully as you move from point to point).
While I personally long for the days when telcos and ISP’s become like power utilities — dumb pipes pumping unrestricted bits that we can do what we want with, no matter where we are within their territory — WSJ presents the “counter argument”:
Wireless providers, such as Clearwire Corp., have successfully argued they should be able to prevent customers from using some bandwidth-hogging Internet services, like file-sharing, because their wireless networks have capacity issues.
Sure, networks need to protect their cash flow enough that they can maintain their current infrastructure, develop and deploy future generations of technology, and earn a fair profit doing both. But surely that can be balanced by opening up traffic on those networks to any legitimate use, within purchased limits, at fair prices for consumers?
