Dishonest Hack

Mike McCurry:

To the Editor:

Adam Cohen (Editorial Observer, May 28) predicts that "the democratic ethic of the World Wide Web may be about to end," echoing The Times's alarmist editorials on the subject of so-called net neutrality (Feb. 20 and May 2).

What is truly alarming, and what actually threatens democratic access to the Web, is proposed legislation that would shackle broadband network providers as they try to find new ways to finance and build out the next-generation Internet.

If broadband providers are required to offer services for no charge to big content providers like Google and Amazon, that will stifle deployment and shift the costs of broadband rollout to consumers.

Needed investment in the high-speed Internet infrastructure may well be delayed, and rural and low-income citizens especially will have to wait even longer to enjoy the "democratic ethic" of the Web.

There are already laws on the books to deal with Mr. Cohen's hypothetical harms. What is about to end, if new laws put the government into the business of regulating the Internet, is a decade of innovation and benefits for all.

Mike McCurry
Christopher Wolf
Washington, May 30, 2006

The writers are co-chairmen of Hands Off the Internet, a group financed by AT&T, BellSouth and other concerns and interest groups. Mr. McCurry was White House press secretary under President Bill Clinton, and Mr. Wolf is a lawyer specializing in technology regulation.

I used to respect McCurry but his lies - or is it mere ignorance? - on this issue has ended that.

To see what the hubbub is about click the "Save the Internet" banner on the right.


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