Matt Stoller Responds to InterrupT

Matt Stoller weighed in on InterrupT's response to his second post on MyDD. I decided to copy it to the front page:

Here's my response to InterrupT. You guys couldn't more wrong, and more than that, your failure to take these arguments seriously is going to really hurt our ability to save the internet. You have no reason to trust me, and it's not personal against your Governor, but the choices she's making are going to hurt us badly.

No amount of bargaining would change the telecoms minds about setting up a two tiered Internet. It would take a lot more than just allowing AT&T to provide terrestrial video services in Michigan to get them to change their minds.

Their entire strategy is predicated around getting video franchising. That's what they want, and if they get it they will dedicate all their power to preventing any other legislation from coming through.

People who have been around the lobbying business for a long time tell me that this is how they operate. You can't just beat these guys, you have to outflank them.

Let's give the new Democrats in congress a chance to address this important issue at the national level. I know that they are aware of the issue, I have written Senator Levin about the issue myself. He sent me a back a nice letter stating that he supports a neutral Internet and would support a bill outlawing a two tiered Internet.

The new Democratic Congress is split on the issue, and they will not affirmatively make net neutrality a priority unless they have to.

Please don't take my comments or anyone else as assault on you or on net neutrality.

But that's what they are. You're a smart guy, but you're being played by the telecoms.

Plus the titles "Governor Granholm Selling Out the Internet?" and "Why Jennifer Granholm Really Is Helping Destroy the Internet," didn't really help you with Michigan readers. I don't think anybody is saying that this bill is perfect; it still needs provisions insisting the service be rolled out to all parts of the state not just the wealthy, most profitable parts. I think most people want a neutral Internet, but in order to be taken seriously we need to make the best possible argument.

AT&T is going to fuck you guys over, you watch. You could have passed a different bill with an incoming Democratic legislature, but Granholm isn't doing that. It's just terrible negotiating because she's feeling intense heat from the telecom companies.

And here's his response to Christine.