Comments on: Google lashes out at critic over 'payola punditry'

D.C. lobbyist Scott Cleland is paid by AT&T, Comcast, Verizon, and others to assail Google, which he does on a daily basis. Now his adversary is fighting back--at least a little.

[Panintheas]

I want the content Google provides. I pay for the bandwidth Google uses. I pay for my connection and the bandwidth. Why are the telecoms asking Google for a payment? To get paid twice? Maybe the telecoms should be paying Google for a compelling reason for them to take my money for the service Google provides.

[oldmanangry]

http://www.sethf.com/gore/

[renGek]

At this point I don't even care who is at war with comcast. Whoever is fighting comcast is my friend.

[SnowCrash8]

I certainly think the cable companies have way too much power when it comes to in major U.S. markets, being sole cable provider in many, having in some instances caused the one or two token alternatives to eventually sell out or shut down. In the case of Comcast, in my opinion they are very very adept at playing a game of feathering the nest of local politicians, which in my state have franchise authority. They supply govt. bodies and other favored interests free or subsizized TV/Net access, they financially support pet causes of local politicians, and the 5 minute hourly interviews of local special interests for this and that ingratiates them as well.

Also, in regard to bundling. It is my understanding that there VOIP service is superior to other offerings like Vonage or Skype, perhaps in part due to packet control and prioritization within their network. One would suspect video is next (if not already being prioritized).

So bottom line, if like the dialup Internet days where multiple providers may have used the 'pipes' of AT&T, the then MCI, Sprint or other carriers, because there were so many it allowed choice and competition. With the cable co's and even Verizon FiOS we do not have this sort of choice or competition.

[AppleSuxLeo]

Being lashed by Brin and his "Ted Koppel Hair" would be entertaining.

[SnowCrash8]

Looks like another article has run on this topic:

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9122723&intsrc=hm_list

Google Fires Back At Analyst Claim It's A Bandwidth Hog
Expert says Google uses 21 times more bandwidth than it pays for
Sharon Gaudin
December 5, 2008 (Computerworld) An analyst with ties to the telecom industry called Google Inc. a bandwidth hog in a report released this week.

[tppcnet]

Cleland is trying to obfuscate his handlers' real agenda, which is to put up smoke and mirrors so that they can get away from charging twice for the same bandwidth; once from their customers, and once from the content publishers.

Looks like it's working, too. If it weren't, people would laugh in their face. I guess pouring millions and millions of dollars into corporate propaganda and liars like Cleland really is paying off.