VOA慢速英语2010年-Economics Report - Verizon and Google

Last week, Verizon and Google proposed a plan they say could keep the Internet open while supporting investment in high-speed Internet service.

Verizon has the nation’s biggest wireless¹ network while Google is the biggest Internet search engine. The proposal was a surprise because the two companies have been on opposite sides of the debate over net neutrality.

That is the idea that all content on the Web should be treated equally.

Internet service providers want to be able to charge more for heavy Internet traffic or users who want special services. The Federal Communications Commission regulates telephone, cable and satellite communications. But its power to regulate Internet service has been questioned in the courts.

The new proposal calls for rules barring service providers from preventing users from sending and receiving legal information of any kind. Users also could not be prevented from linking any application, service or device they choose to the Web.

And broadband Internet providers would be barred from discriminating² against content and would have to be open about their policies.

Supporters of net neutrality criticized the proposal for not including wireless providers. Wireless broadband is among the fastest growing parts of the Internet.

Google chief Eric Schmidt, left, and Lowell McAdam, president of Verizon Wireless announce a mobile phone partnership³ last year. The two companies have now cooperated on a proposal for Internet rules

Others oppose the creation of a “two-tiered” system on the Internet in which some content gets a fast lane and other content goes slowly.But Daniel Brenner says such a system already exists.

DANIEL BRENNER: “In some ways there are two tiers today. In other words, there’s the public Internet which we all use for Web surfing, e-mail and sometimes for voice. And then there are managed networks.”

Daniel Brenner is a partner at the law firm Hogan Lovells in Washington. He says service providers want to be able to charge more because they build networks out to their customers across the country. Such companies are the so-called “last mile” providers.

But, the Internet is really a network of networks which exchange traffic all the time and compete with each other. And not all networks reach the last mile to a customer’s door.

Paul Kouroupas of Global Crossing says his company wants to make sure agreements between service providers are honored on all networks. That way, a service promised by Global Crossing on its fiber⁴ optic network will be extended all the way to a customer’s door — even if another company carries the service that last mile.

The Verizon-Google proposal offers suggestions for a debate that is not likely to end soon. Daniel Brenner says the FCC needs clearer guidelines from Congress. And that’s the VOA Special English Economics Report, written by Mario Ritter. I’m Steve Ember.

 

1 wireless   

adj.无线的；n.无线电

参考例句：

• There are a lot of wireless links in a radio.收音机里有许多无线电线路。
• Wireless messages tell us that the ship was sinking.无线电报告知我们那艘船正在下沉。

2 discriminating   

a.有辨别能力的

参考例句：

• Due caution should be exercised in discriminating between the two. 在区别这两者时应该相当谨慎。
• Many businesses are accused of discriminating against women. 许多企业被控有歧视妇女的做法。

3 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

4 fiber   

n.纤维，纤维质

参考例句：

• The basic structural unit of yarn is the fiber.纤维是纱的基本结构单元。
• The material must be free of fiber clumps.这种材料必须无纤维块。