WGA West prez Patric Verrone and SAG board member Justine Bateman traveled to Washington DC and testified at a hearing by the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee on Tuesday, describing the Internet as the only remaining open market for truly independent creators and stressing the need for “Net Neutrality”. Both spoke on behalf of independent content creators concerned that Internet and broadband service providers will discriminate against their sites. The duo support free speech efforts to ensure consumers are guaranteed equal and unfettered access to all legal websites and online content.
Verrone, there representing guild writers whose bosses are the same companies that control the media, talked about the need to dethrone the Internet gatekeppers: “The axiom in Hollywood is that ‘content is king’. But those who control access to the king control the kingdom. Because of federal regulation — or lack thereof — that control is in the hands of neither the consumer nor the content creators, but the distributors… The policy decisions that triggered the consolidation of old media has not yet been made for the new media. There is still time to protect the rights of content producers and consumers. We need to establish clear Net Neutrality rules to ensure that the Internet remains a level playing field for all.”
Bateman was not representing the actors guild but instead speaking as a partner in a company that plans to launch an online video channel. “In entertainment, I believe we are on the verge of a creative renaissance and the Internet is the new grid upon which this renaissance can rest, because unfortunately the business grid of TV and film today cannot support that… We content creators have found open distribution on the Internet. And the idea of your site succeeding or failing based upon whether or not you paid the telecom companies enough to carry your material, or allow quick access, is appalling. Honestly, I can’t help but think of extortion when I imagine that kind of arrangement. Net Neutrality will allow for we creators to continue owning and controlling our content in a way that we have not been able to since the repeal of the financial and syndication rules. A whole new class of small business owners will emerge, providing thousands of new jobs in a sector that desperately needs them. And with innovation comes competition. Net Neutrality would insure a level playing field for that.”
The Senate panel is examining whether more regulation is needed over the telephone and cable companies which provide Internet service over their networks. Sens. Byron Dorgan, (D-N.D.) and Olympia Snowe, (R-Maine) requested the hearing into reports of specific discriminatory incidents involving Comcast Corp, Verizon Wireless and AT&T Inc. engaging in unfair and/or anticompetitive practices. Dornan has introduced a Net Neutrality bill, which would guarantee that all Internet traffic be treated equally by carriers and foil plans by Internet providers to charge websites extra for preferential treatment of their traffic. Look for more debate involving Hollywood as this Net Neutrality issue heats up even more.
Editor-in-Chief Nikki Finke - tip her here.
net neutrality is a compilcated issue.
The issue of net neutrality is key to preventing the privatizing of the Internet. Several years ago the communications conglomerates petitioned the Bush FCC to change the definition of cable companies (not phone companies, so far) from “telecommunications systems” to “informational systems.” This removed them from the obligation of common carrier status and enabled them to restrict access to websites or, as Ms. Bateman notes, favor some sites over others with faster download speed.
You already know how it works: you do a Google search and start clicking on results. If one doesn’t come up fast enough, you move on to the next. Now imagine if you were a distributor trying to sell downloads on that first link and the cable Internet system hosting your movie relegated you to a slower download speed because you wouldn’t sell them the rights to your film. Customers would go elsewhere. Remember the pre-Consent Decree days? Ta-DA.
The uber-consolodation of the media is the single greatest obstacle to freedom of speech in this country. Ten years ago, TV producers had perhaps 20 separate places they could pitch a project. Now they have six. And yet the FCC (specifically the three Republican Commissioners) continues to deem the marketplace competitive because anybody can put up a website — as if one guy on a blog equals a station-owning network. But that’s their definition of competition.
Remember that, when pie is sliced so thinly that nobody can get fed, the only one who makes money is the baker.
It’s ironic to see Patric Verrone testifying before a committee of either the House or the Senate in Washington this week.
And it makes me wonder…..
For a moment while testifying, could he possibly have thought back to other members of the WGA who had been FORCED to testify before a committees in Washington?
Verrone was welcomed into the chamber, probably favorably introduced and allowed to make an opening statement. I’ll bet the questions were polite, intelligent and certainly not dripping with loathing and disdain.
Now contrast that with the experience of The Hollywood Ten, screenwriters who made a decision to join a totally legal political party (or in many instances, just accused of being a member) whose lives were ruined because someone named names after the party was retroactively outlawed.
See where I’m going?
Just a week after committing perhaps the most outrageous naming of names in Hollywood in the last few decades, here’s Verrone testifying in Washington.
If he’s willing to admit he had a single twitch of uncertainty or remorse for his actions, then perhaps he’s a redeemable human being.
If this didn’t occur to him, then fuck him.
Well, if Patric is on this, you can bet that net neutrality will not apply to Animation or Reality.
“anotherWGAmember”
You’re a fool if you don’t see the difference between the proper publication of the Fi-core gang, and the Hollywood Ten, and you seriously trivialize those historic events.
Take a breath and give your self-righteous grandstanding a rest.
Did Justine call anyone a scumbag?
Just checking…
to the person that replied to my message.
And you’re an asshole if you really think that what Verrone did was something the head of the WGA should be doing.
I mentioned the Hollywood Ten because back then, people told them “just tell the committeee what they want to hear and it will all blow over.” The people whose names were named knew that it wouldn’t just be over.
Verrone has, similarily, ruined the lives and careers of people who did something that, like it or not, is totally legal.
Now, I think what the Fi-Core people did was slimey (in many cases, i imagine some had no real choice) but the WGA just should never, ever publish a list of names on ANY SUBJECT and encourage fellow members to treat the named with disdain.
The Guild has a long history of not supporting the named. Many of us were hoping that was in the past, but now, our leadership – without asking the rank and file – has decided to name names of its own.
This is just utterly unconscionable.
And it’s a tragedy when people like you claim to be Guild members and do not realize that.
Glad to see Verrone and Bateman testifying in favor of Net Neutrality.
One of the best analogies I’ve read is comparing Net access to electricity. The power company doesn’t look at which brand of toaster you have, it just provides the electricity.
Net Neutrality is more important even than electricity, because what is at stake is freedom of speech in the town square of the 21st Century.