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July 17, 2006, 03:52 PM ET
Internet Icons Square Off Over Net Neutrality
Most of the Internet icons who have weighed in on Net neutrality—folks like Timothy J. Berners-Lee, for example (The Chronicle, May 23)—have made it clear that they support codifying the principle. But not every influential computer scientist is sanguine about Internet regulations, as demonstrated by a debate today at the Center for American Progress.
At the debate, Vinton Cerf—the Internet-protocol pioneer who recently took a position as Google’s "chief Internet evangelist"—argued that Net neutrality provisions are necessary to keep broadband providers from engaging in "abusive practices," according to CNET News. But David J. Farber, a professor of computer science and public policy at Carnegie Mellon University known for his seminal work on networking, disputed Mr. Cerf’s argument. Mr. Farber said the Net-neutrality legislation that most advocates support includes dangerously vague language that could pave the way for more intrusive regulation of the Web.
The researchers agreed on one issue, though: They both argued that most of the public debate on Net neutrality has been less than stimulating. At one point, Mr. Cerf bemoaned the number of advocates and skeptics "hurling bumper stickers back and forth at each other." —Brock Read
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