Greetings. A recent op-ed in the San Francisco Chronicle, penned by a frequent apologist for ISPs, casts dark aspersions on Google's support for Internet network neutrality efforts.

Just as a theoretical for the sake of the argument, let's assume that Google "has been the prime organizer and source of funding" for various network neutrality causes, as the op-ed's author posits.

In such a case, I say, "Hurrah! Keep It Up. Go Google!"

During the wonderful 1974 John Carpenter film Dark Star, a starship crew member attempts to talk planet-destroyer "Bomb #20" into not exploding while still attached to the ship. (Assignment: Go rent the movie to learn how the ship reached this bizarre state in the first place.)

He trys to convince the bomb that the detonation countdown order it received never actually occurred, and that the bomb cannot trust its own senses regarding absolute reality. The bomb then asks how -- if its senses are unreliable -- it can know that it's presently even actually discussing the concept at that moment?

The crewman replies that the concept is valid no matter where it originates.

And so it is with network neutrality. It's ridiculous to suggest that Google's support of network neutrality in any way diminishes the concept. And it's similar nonsense to suggest that Google's concept of network neutrality would be bad for the "little guy."

Does Google stand to benefit in a neutral network environment? Sure. So what? So do lots of other entities, from individuals to large corporations of many varied stripes. In fact, the only real losers under a rigorous network neutrality regime might likely be those ISPs who are currently trying to extend their stranglehold over a now crucial element of our infrastructure -- the Internet itself -- while pushing their "We Control the Net" philosophy and related anticompetitive behaviors even to the extent of modifying and wiretapping user data.

Google itself has the resources to likely survive nicely even without the sort of network neutrality that I want to see in place. I am convinced that while network neutrality could well help Google's bottom line -- and obviously they know that -- Google's interest and support in this area basically springs from a genuine philosophical alignment with the importance of neutrality issues for the benefit of the entire Internet and all of its users.

One last item for now. There is an implicit implication in some of the anti-Google rhetoric related to this topic, which seems to make the tacit suggestion that certain well known and highly visible individuals, who have long been associated with the promotion of causes related to and associated with network neutrality, have somehow been corrupted and invalidated by their relationships with Google. This is in my opinion not only factually incorrect, but also scurrilous and offensive.

--Lauren--