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Google, Facebook, Twitter to Feds: Man Up on Net Neutrality

Amid the cacophony of reactions to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski’s proposed internet openness rules, one group has been conspicuously absent — the world’s largest internet companies. Not any more. On Thursday, the Open Internet Coalition, a diverse interest group that represents Google, Facebook, Twitter, Netflix, Skype, Amazon, eBay, and scores of other internet-dependent […]

Amid the cacophony of reactions to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski's proposed internet openness rules, one group has been conspicuously absent — the world's largest internet companies.

Not any more.

On Thursday, the Open Internet Coalition, a diverse interest group that represents Google, Facebook, Twitter, Netflix, Skype, Amazon, eBay, and scores of other internet-dependent companies, will run ads in two prominent Washington, D.C., publications — Politico and The Hill — expressing their displeasure with Chairman Genachowski's new compromise rules.

The Open Internet Coalition participated in the now-infamous closed-door talks held by FCC Chief of Staff Edward Lazarus last summer. It didn't end well. Markham Erickson, the respected tech policy lawyer who is Executive Director of the OIC, confirmed the authenticity of the ads in a phone conversation with Wired.com Wednesday evening.

In their ads, for which the group paid tens of thousands of dollars, OIC makes a simple point: What Chairman Genachowski is proposing isn't real net neutrality.

This is the ad copy (emphasis original):

"President Obama promised to protect the open internet," the ad reads. "That means no gatekeepers. That means no internet access providers building toll roads or blocking traffic."

Here the group is making a not-so veiled reference to Comcast, which this week startled internet users after the cable giant got into a screaming match with backbone provider Level 3 over streaming video.

"It's called net neutrality, and it's not a new regulation. It's the way the internet has always worked."

Here the group is trying to make the point that net neutrality is the de facto standard on the web -- which is why a lot of people take it for granted. The Open Internet Coalition wants to keep it that way.

"Our companies, public internet groups, and millions of Americans are united in support of real Net Neutrality without paid prioritization that applies to wired and wireless connections."

Here OIC is taking a shot at Chairman Genachowski over what the group sees as a wimpy stance. Real net neutrality is code for "Title II" re-classification, which apparently scares the bejeezus out of Genachowski. That would have put ISPs like Comcast in the same regulatory category as the phone company, and left no doubt as to its authority to prevent abusive behavior by the companies that control the nation's internet pipes.

"The FCC is poised to act. We join President Obama in our support of real Net Neutrality. Americans should expect nothing less."

Ok, thanks for clearing that up guys.

Full list of OIC members after the jump:

  • Adaptive Marketing LLC
  • Aegon Direct Marketing Services
  • Amazon
  • American Association of Law Libraries
  • American Civil Liberties Union
  • American Library Association
  • Anglebeds.com
  • Ask.com
  • Association of Research Libraries
  • Bloglines
  • Chemistry.com
  • Circumedia LLC
  • Citysearch
  • CollegeHumor
  • Computer & Communications Industry Association
  • Cornerstone Brands, Inc.
  • Data Foundry
  • Domania
  • Downstream
  • Dreamsleep.com
  • Dresses.com
  • Earthlink
  • eBay
  • Educause
  • Electronic Retailing Association
  • Entertainment Publications
  • Evite
  • Facebook
  • Free Press
  • GetSmart
  • Gifts.com
  • GoGawGaw
  • Google
  • Hawthorne Direct
  • HomeLoanCenter.com
  • HSN
  • IAC
  • Iceland Health Inc.
  • iNest
  • InPulse Response
  • Internet2
  • Interval International
  • iWon
  • LendingTree
  • Livemercial
  • Match.com
  • Media Access Project
  • Media Partners Worldwide
  • Mercury Media
  • Merrick Group
  • NationalBlinds.com
  • Net Coalition
  • Netflix
  • New America Foundation
  • North Texas Technology Council
  • PayPal
  • Product Partners
  • Pronto.com
  • Public Knowledge
  • RealEstate.com
  • ReserveAmerica
  • Savvier
  • ServiceMagic
  • Shoebuy.com
  • Shopping.com
  • Skype
  • Sling Media
  • Sony Electronics, Inc.
  • StubHub
  • Success in the City
  • TechNet
  • Ticketmaster
  • TiVo
  • Tonystickets.com
  • Tranquilitymattress.com
  • Twitter
  • US PIRG
  • Vanguard
  • Washington Bureau for ISP Advocacy
  • Windward Instruments
  • YouTube

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