Google Threatens Telcos with Antitrust Action

In an escalation of the war of words over network neutrality — the idea that all Internet content would not be prioritized for delivery on the basis of fees — a top Google executive said Tuesday that the Internet giant would pursue antitrust enforcement against telecommunications companies if abuses occur.

Google Vice President and noted Internet pioneer Vinton Cerf said at a news conference in Sofia, Bulgaria, that the company would be happy if the U.S. Congress passes a measure to enforce network neutrality.

But if it does not, he said, Google will not hesitate to file antitrust complaints if telecommunications companies misuse their resulting market power.

If a provision for network neutrality is not added to an existing telecommunications bill in Congress, he said, “then we will simply have to wait until something bad happens, and then we will make known our case to the
Department of Justice’s antitrust division.”

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