A.T. & T. had to abide by a "common carriage" rule: it provided the same quality of service to all, and could not favor one customer over another. But, while "tiered access" never influenced the spread of the telephone network, it is becoming a major issue in the evolution of the Internet. Until recently, companies that provided Internet access followed a de-facto commoncarriage rule, usually called "network neutrality," which meant that all Web sites got equal treatment. Network neutrality was considered so fundamental to the success of the Net that Michael Powell, when he was chairman of the F.C.C., described it as one of the basic rules of "Internet freedom."

Link By: James Surowiecki, New Yorker

PARIS (Reuters) -- France is pushing through a law that would force Apple Computer Inc to open its iTunes online music store and enable consumers to download songs onto devices other than the computer maker's popular iPod player.

Under a draft law expected to be voted in parliament on Thursday, consumers would be able to legally use software that converts digital content into any format.

Link By: Astrid Wendlandt, Reuters via Yahoo! News

American Airlines is demanding that Google and video-sharing site YouTube reveal the name of the person who posted a portion of one of the airline's training videos on their Web sites.

Someone uploaded part of a video used to train flight attendants on YouTube and Google Video. The airline subpoenaed those companies on Feb. 21 under the controversial Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), according to airline spokesman Tim Wagner. Under the provisions of the DMCA, companies have the right to request information in the event that their copyright materials are infringed upon.

Link By: Greg Sandoval, CNET News.com

In May 2000, Lars Ulrich, the bombastic drummer for the band Metallica, personally delivered a list of 335,000 screen names of people suspected of music piracy to Napster's Silicon Valley office. With that giant stack of names came the beginning of the end for freewheeling music exchange services.

Fast-forward six years. The new threat in Internet-enabled copyright infringement is centering on video. YouTube, the most trafficked of the video-sharing sites, has recently been asked to pull three videos--two skits from NBC Universal's "Saturday Night Live" and an American Airlines training bit--from its site owing to possible copyright violations.

Link By: Jim Kerstetter, Greg Sandoval and Elinor Mills , CNET News.com

Some companies' efforts may mean larger outfits with financial heft get faster-priority access on the Net. At stake is the very essence of the Web.

In the decade since Congress last rewrote the nation's telecommunications laws, our open and accessible Internet has become a wellspring for innovation, producing the likes of Google (GOOG), Yahoo (YHOO), eBay (EBAY), Amazon (AMZN), and thousands of smaller successful e-commerce enterprises. Collectively, the services they sell at home and abroad, and the jobs they have created, are driving forces of the 21st-century economy.

Link By: Rep. Rick Boucher, Business Week

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- Two top consumer groups say they'll urge U.S. antitrust authorities to block telecommunications giant AT&T Inc.'s acquisition of BellSouth Corp., arguing it would lead to higher prices.

Consumers Union and the Consumer Federation of America said Sunday that they would ask the Justice Department's antitrust division to reject the $67 billion deal that would extend AT&T's (Research) reach and solidify its position as the No 1. U.S. telephone company.

Link By: Jeremy Pelofsky, Reuters via CNNMoney.com

If there were vigorous competition among providers of high-speed Internet access, lawmakers could trust the market to find the right balance between preserving the Internet's openness and enabling network operators to experiment with new business models. Sadly, many parts of the country have only one or two providers of high-speed networks, and that's not enough to keep those providers honest.

That's why lawmakers should adopt "Net neutrality" rules, to preserve the open and nondiscriminatory nature of the Internet, which has been critical to innovation online. That innovation is an increasingly vital part of the U.S. economy.

Link Los Angeles Times

Senator Ron Wyden, Democrat of Oregon, will introduce new legislation today that would prohibit Internet network operators from charging companies for faster delivery of their content to consumers or favoring some content providers over others.

Link By: Ken Belson, N.Y. Times

The Copyright Office seeks to examine the issues raised by "orphan works," i.e., copyrighted works whose owners are difficult or even impossible to locate. Concerns have been raised that the uncertainty surrounding ownership of such works might needlessly discourage subsequent creators and users from incorporating such works in new creative efforts or making such works available to the public. This notice requests written comments from all interested parties. Specifically, the Office is seeking comments on whether there are compelling concerns raised by orphan works that merit a legislative, regulatory or other solution, and what type of solution could effectively address these concerns without conflicting with the legitimate interests of authors and right holders.