FilmMaker Magazine web site has a great post by David Rosen on the evolving battle over Net Neutrality and the growing cries for Common Carriage legislation.

Rosen’s take on it, naturally enough, is from the perspective of the independent filmmaker - at least initially - but the article goes beyond that and delves into the history and growth of the telcos and ISP’s who are currently attempting to hijack the net as their own property and the consequences of what will happen should such a thing come to pass.

As IPTV is rolled out, the telcos and cable operators are taking a more aggressive role in their attempts to garner greater control over the Internet and communications in general. This influence is partially market-driven, like the pressure to consolidate the number of Internet Service Providers (ISPs); it needlessly involves outright censorship, particularly blockage of content they apparently do not approve of; and even involves the flat-footed imposition of corporate power, like the attempt to rig an FCC hearing. A lot is at stake in the battle over the future of the Internet and networked communications. The big dogs are not pulling their punches in their attempt to ensure a favorable outcome.

Susan Crawford has numerous posts on Common Carriage and it seems that phrase will soon be replacing the much maligned Net Neutrality as the clarion call for freedom of speech, expression and access - this latter being most eloquently ropounded by Tommy Smothers recently. While the rest of the world crashes and burns (both literally and financially) this is another kind of war being waged - worldwide - and one which deserves our constant attention.

“Net neutrality is a distraction,” argues Bruce Kushnick, of Teletruth, a broadband customer advocacy group. “As long as the telco and cable companies control the infrastructure and are allowed to vertically integrate all products (i.e., offer local and long distance, connection to the Internet, broadband and even wireless), they can control any activity or any competition over the networks, including all video. The only next step is to have common carriage returned: While the underlying infrastructure may be controlled by the incumbent, all applications and services should be allowed by all parties.”

Common carriage provides for a neutral telecommunications platform, whether it is for voice or video, data or music as well as if the signals are sent over a wire- or fiber-based network or via a wireless service. It would protect the interests of the content providers as well as end users. Further it prevents a network carrier from gaining unfair control over increasing aspects of the communications landscape, be it the ISP portion, the infrastructure or the content itself. This will likely turn out to be the major telecommunications battle if, as expected, a new Democratic administration takes office in January 2009. And, as with battles in the past to establish PBS, PEG set-asides, ITVS and the minority-programming services, indie filmmakers will be called to join the fight to protect their interests as media makers and as citizens.

Stay tuned.

Cheers.