Over a two-week period in February 2010, McLaughlin exchanged numerous emails with Free Press director Ben Scott, another prominent advocate for Net neutrality who has coordinated policy strategy with Google and attended joint meetings with Google at the FCC and White House on numerous occasions. They agreed to meet outside the White House at a nearby coffee shop to discuss Internet policy.

It’s interesting to see this level of coordination, given all of Free Press’ claims of independence. But it’s not unusual for members of a coalition to talk to each other; they’re often directed to do so by the government. In a former life, I was often in that position, so this still has a “gambling in Casablanca” feel.

politics, Massachusetts Senate Race

The approach to Internet regulation that focuses exclusively on the rights of consumers and the responsibilities of carriers belies the fact that the Internet invests substantial network control at the intelligent edge; the Internet gives each of us the power to be a producer as well as a consumer, and with that power comes responsibility. We can innovate without permission, but we all have to behave responsibly. It goes without saying that open access networks are desirable, so the real test of the FCC’s rulemaking will come from its assessment of both user behavior and operator management practices. We have every confidence that the Commission will undertake a serious, rigorous and fact-based rule making. The Internet enables innovation to the extent that carriers provide robust and reliable transport services to applications; if this capability is preserved and enhanced by a sensible network management framework, innovation will win.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced on national television today that he would not be running for California governor in 2010 after flirting with a bid for higher office for months.

While Antonio cited time with the family and the pressures that LA is facing, he didn’t have a serious chance to win anyhow, given his lackluster style, his personal problems, and his overall inability to stand up to former Gov. Moonbeam in a debate. So farewall, Antonio, we’ll miss you.

I’d like to see the race come down to Brown vs. Tom Campbell. I’m a long-time fan of both of them, and would like to see a substantive campaign between two genuine wonks just once in my life.

It’s going to be a hard road for Campbell because he’s up against two rich dabblers, Meg Whitman and Steve Poizner, who can finance their campaigns with pocket change. If they’re patriots, they’ll follow Antonio’s lead and drop out for the sake of the state.

Twitter and YouTube are certainly playing a role in getting the news out of the blackout the Iranian government has sought to impose.