Verizon and AT&T's Internet Mugging Threatens U.S. Prosperity

[Commentary] In a legal brief regarding Federal Communications Commission regulations, Verizon Communications claimed the right to edit and restrict the Internet content it delivers through its broadband services. Verizon says it is like a newspaper in that it creates, aggregates, and curates content. It claims a free speech right to filter the content, restrict it, or block it altogether. Verizon rejects entirely the obligation to carry all websites on an equal basis. It says there is no more justification to require Verizon to carry all web traffic equally than to require the New York Times to cover all stories equally. The company claims to offer an "information service" rather than a "communications service." AT&T has geared up to block certain popular applications from their wireless data service (starting with Apple's FaceTime live video app). Presumably AT&T will unblock the apps for a fee (in addition to whatever bandwidth charges may apply), but the details have yet to be released. This assault on the Internet threatens consumers, entrepreneurs, and the U.S. economy as a whole.
[Brodwin is a cofounder and board member of American Sustainable Business Council.]