TV Needs to Join Network Neutrality Fight

[Commentary] Broadcasters are beginning to see themselves as more than just broadcasters. They are now online publishers, competing not only with the sites of the local newspapers and other TV and radio stations, but also the Yellow Pages and other local online directories and search engines. Broadcasters need to follow the local audiences and advertisers as they gradually migrate to the Web. Today, Web revenue is nice addition to broadcasters' top line that helps offset loses in spot advertising. Tomorrow, it could equal or exceed the spot advertising. So, if broadcasters are Web publishers, they need to start acting like it in Washington. There are a myriad of issues surrounding the Internet and the Web, but the big one is what's come to be called Network Neutrality. The last thing that a station needs to discover is that its Web site is not loading as quickly or looking as good as that of the local Yellow Pages publisher because the directory publisher cut some kind of deal with the cable company. Or worse, the station Web site is functioning slower because the local cable company has its own competitive site.