Zucker is an ‘AT&T puppet’
Cory Bergman October 4th, 2007
Writes Terry Heaton about NBCU CEO Jeff Zucker’s comments that AT&T and other ISPs should filter their lines for pirated content: “This is one of the most dangerous and desperate things I’ve ever heard come out of the mouth of someone who, among other things, is charged with certain responsibilities vis-a-vis the First Amendment. And the REAL PROBLEM is that this line was likely penned by the Telcos, not Zucker or his writers…. AT&T would LOVE to filter the web.”
7 Comments Add your own
1. Amanda Emily | October 4th, 2007 at 12:55 pm
AT&T’s Internet service is classified by the FCC as an “Enhanced Service Provider” (mostly to exempt ISPs from having to pay into the Universal Service Fund) which gives them a USC 17 Chapt. 5 § 512 status - so they are not liable for ANYTHING that goes over their network. If you filter it, you’re responsible for everything on that network. Read section A(5) in the URL linked in my name
You really think they want to give that privilege up?
And technically AT&T’s Internet division is not a telco, the two divisions are kept strictly separate as to not impact AT&T telephone service’s common carrier status since “Enhanced Service Provider” is not quite true common carrier status.
I won’t get into the moral implications of the fourth estate implying advocation of censorship and violations of the first amendment.
2. Safran | October 4th, 2007 at 2:11 pm
Thank you, Amanda, for that good info,
3. Terry Heaton | October 4th, 2007 at 2:29 pm
Amanda, AT&T has already proven that it will filter, as in the censoring of the band Pearl Jam. I appreciate the status they enjoy and how such filtering might jeopardize that, but they speak with forked tongue.
4. newmediaguy | October 4th, 2007 at 5:59 pm
Come on with the “puppet” stuff.
Anybody who views the Internet as a business which it is and owned content as what it is i.e. owned, automatically becomes a bad person in the eyes of all you guys.
It is a business and the reason Heaton is making money with all his consulting and you are too Safran is because you are leveraging an existing BUSINESS to make a buck.
Give us a break please with your purity.
A small break?
5. Steve Safran | October 5th, 2007 at 6:54 am
You’re right. That’s actually how Terry and I pitch prospective clients: “Nobody should make money off the web except for us. Now pay up!”
6. NewMediaGuy | October 5th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
i’ve seen the pitch. It’s a variation on Jarvis’ which is “pay attention to me because i am right and if you don’t you will die.”
7. Safran | October 5th, 2007 at 7:41 pm
Except that our beards aren’t as glorious, yes.
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