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posted by n1 on Tuesday September 23 2014, @08:56PM   Printer-friendly
from the trying-not-to-be-evil? dept.

Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt today said it was a “mistake” to support the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a group that has said human-created climate change could be “beneficial” and opposes environmental regulations. Schmidt said groups trying to cast doubt on climate change science are "just literally lying."

Google’s membership in ALEC has been criticized because of the group’s stance on climate change and its opposition to network neutrality rules and municipal broadband. Earlier this month, Google refused to comment after 50 advocacy groups called on the company to end its affiliation with ALEC.

 
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  • (Score: 2) by frojack on Tuesday September 23 2014, @10:59PM

    by frojack (1554) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday September 23 2014, @10:59PM (#97385) Journal

    'm glad Google dumped ALEC, but why didn't they catch on sooner? Why, for that matter did Google ever join ALEC at all?

    Climate is only ONE of the items on this group's agenda, and the group themselves probably wish it had crept into their agenda.

    Google previously was not necessarily sold on Net Neutrality or allowing Municipal broadband, these things compete with some of the things on Google's plate, and they have vacillated on both topics. Municipal broadband competes with Google fiber, Net Neutrality competes with some aspects of Android.

    And there are probably a number of other items on the group's agenda that Many, if not most businesses would sign onto.

    The problem here is that group peed on today's third rail of politics, and poisoned the well (sorry: couldn't help but mix those metaphors).

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  • (Score: 2) by frojack on Tuesday September 23 2014, @11:00PM

    by frojack (1554) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday September 23 2014, @11:00PM (#97386) Journal

    wish it had NOT crept...

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  • (Score: 3, Interesting) by Nerdfest on Tuesday September 23 2014, @11:15PM

    by Nerdfest (80) on Tuesday September 23 2014, @11:15PM (#97393)

    What aspects of Android are affected by net neutrality?

    • (Score: 2) by frojack on Wednesday September 24 2014, @01:01AM

      by frojack (1554) Subscriber Badge on Wednesday September 24 2014, @01:01AM (#97420) Journal

      Google got pretty two-faced about net neutrality (along with Verizon) back in 2010. The fully supported net neutrality for wireline services but totally exempted themselves and the entire wireless industry [blogspot.com] from net neutrality:

      Sixth, we both recognize that wireless broadband is different from the traditional wireline world, in part because the mobile marketplace is more competitive and changing rapidly. In recognition of the still-nascent nature of the wireless broadband marketplace, under this proposal we would not now apply most of the wireline principles to wireless, except for the transparency requirement. In addition, the Government Accountability Office would be required to report to Congress annually on developments in the wireless broadband marketplace, and whether or not current policies are working to protect consumers.

      The were called out on this so furiously that within days they were forced to post another piece trying to defend themselves [blogspot.com] but nobody was buying it. But the FCC saw their chance to exempt wireless, and pounced [engadget.com].

      The FCC thought it would make selling net neutrality to congress and industry easier because all they would have to fight were the big ISPs.
      Well, that fight isn't going exactly according to plan either. Had Google not caved in to Verizon, we would be in a much better position today. But divide and conquer seems to be working for big carriers.

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      • (Score: 2) by Nerdfest on Wednesday September 24 2014, @01:19AM

        by Nerdfest (80) on Wednesday September 24 2014, @01:19AM (#97425)

        True, we'd be in better shape, but it has nothing to do with Android.

        • (Score: 3, Insightful) by frojack on Wednesday September 24 2014, @03:14AM

          by frojack (1554) Subscriber Badge on Wednesday September 24 2014, @03:14AM (#97463) Journal

          Yes it does.

          If Google hadn't been pushing android so hard at that time, the would never have fallen under the persuasion of Verizon. They would have stuck to their net neutrality guns. Verizon convinced them to do otherwise.

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