Google released the details of their talks with Verizon (Google Public Policy Blog: A joint policy proposal for an open Internet). On the whole their proposal doesn’t sound all that bad. There is, however, one potentially dangerous point:
Fifth, we want the broadband infrastructure to be a platform for innovation. Therefore, our proposal would allow broadband providers to offer additional, differentiated online services, in addition to the Internet access and video services such as Verizon’s FIOS TV offered today.
At a glance, this sounds perfectly reasonable. Yet, what this might effectively do is create a system of multiple networks–or multiple internets. One of the greatest strengths of the Internet is the fact that it’s one big happy network (though admittedly less happy along the backbone where peering can be problematic). Assuming that these innovative networks interconnect with the greater internet, we may end up right back where we started: with companies that run the wires in ways that are best for the bottom line. I’m not that convinced that’s the best way to run the network.
Edit: Looks as though I largely agree with Public Knowledge’s take on the situation.