So Who's Neutral Now?

One story lost amid the flood of election news has been the battle over Google TV. If you missed it, that's forgivable--like a number of Google ventures outside its search and advertising core, Google TV hasn't exactly taken off. And the major networks are doing their best to make sure it doesn't: ABC, NBC and CBS are blocking the Google box from streaming their shows.

What's interesting here is that up to now, the whole debate about "net neutrality" has focused on the prospect of internet service providers--that is, the telcos and cable companies--blocking content providers unless they pay up. Content providers themselves blocking specific devices, though (or service providers, as Comcast did in its negotiations with Fox) changes the game. It seems that down the road, if this continues, the content folks will have a lot of trouble making the case for unfettered access to internet users when they are as guilty of blocking services as anyone. The worst case scenario, of course, if that the biggest players cut deals with the major carriers, and leave new services out in the cold.