Google won't pay broadband extortion
 

"January 18, 2006
Google: We Won't Pay Broadband Cyberextortion


BellSouth and Verizon have been trying to force big Web sites to pay extortion-type fees if the sites want adequate bandwidth, with Google a prime target. But Google has news for them: It won't pay.

Google told Networking Pipeline's Paul Kapustka in no uncertain terms that it won't give in to the cyberextortion. And despite reports to the contrary, Google says, it isn't talking with any carriers about the issue.

Google's Barry Schnitt told Paul in an email: "Google is not discussing sharing of the costs of broadband networks with any carrier. We believe consumers are already paying to support broadband access to the Internet through subscription fees and, as a result, consumers should have the freedom to use this connection without limitations."

Google has that absolutely right. We're all already paying through the nose for Internet access, especially compared with the low access prices in the rest of the world. Good for Google for standing up to this cyberextortion.

The BellSouths and Verizons of the world should focus on offering better services at lower prices -- not trying to fine-tune the Tony Soprano business model. That's been tried already, by a company you may have heard of, called Enron. And look where it got them."

I'm really impressed with google the past two weeks. They have stood up to the government and cell companies on issues.

if you like google so much - check out this speculative futurist take on the company

google grid

Lemme quash the rumors before they get started. I'm not a damn google fan, nor do I love google. I simply think they are taking the right stance against the government, and the cell provider's demands. I do love monkeys though, very tasty with bbq sauce and a sixer.

shiiiiit - you'd taste barbecued monkey only after they died of old age - a regular monkey'd kick you lilly ass up one side, down the other and be sucking on a mentos while doing it!

damn uppity chimp, you almost made me spill my big gulp, course that was only cause I hadn't actually heard anyone use the world "lilly" in a decade or so.
Off the topic but related to monkeys.....
I was flippin the channels on the tv the other day and saw some footage of a chimp in a zoo smoking a ciggarette. I found it highly amusing. He looked like some richy bitch in one of those black and white flicks. Seriously, he looked like he had an attitude like he was better than everyone. I'm sure there's a link somewhere to the footage online, but i'm too damn lazy to find it. Anyways, the cip reminded me of Zero.

well - i never thought that footage was very flattering and, to be honest, i'm trying to cut down on my ciggies

but thanks for the notice

I think I've been falling behind on doing my part to make the world a worse place for everyone. And you know what? Starting an organization to teach chimps such behavior usually not seen in zoo's sounds like a good idea. Eventually we could expand our efforts into work with other animals, like teaching penguins to attack small animals and use spitballs. Who knows, the future may not be so bleak afterall. :cool:

the key, i think, is to teach more animals to publicly masturbate - this is crucial to the survival of live on this planet

I agree completely! We don't need a fucking 24 hour food network, or sopa network, or any of that other nonsensical bs. We need a 24 hour network devoted to the attempts to teach animals to do worthwhile shit, like masturbating in public, smoking, and flipping the bird to stupid zoogoers.

it would be a real 'DISCOVERY' channel - if you know what i mean, nudge nudge, wink wink