* Also: 'Net neutrality issue may slow growth of SaaS market; and Consumers are confused by IPTV, study finds
Tech groups urge Congress to keep Internet neutrality
Is ‘Net Neutrality stuck in neutral? IDG News Service Correspondent Grant Gross reports that more than 60 technology companies, consumer advocates and trade groups are urging a House of Representatives committee to consider legislation designed to prohibit broadband providers from discriminating against competing services transmitted over their networks. Amid some press reports that the House Energy and Commerce committee was ready to scrap so-called Internet neutrality provisions from a broad-ranging communications bill, the groups sent a letter to the committee. A committee spokesman said Thursday no decisions have been made about what provisions will be included in the communications bill.
***
‘Net neutrality issue may slow growth of SaaS market
Here’s a ripple effect: The outcome of the ‘Net neutrality issue currently up for debate among lawmakers could slow down the burgeoning software as a service (SAAS) market, according to a report by IDGNS’s Elizabeth Montalbano. On one side of the debate, large service providers such as AT&T are petitioning lawmakers for control of any services that go over their pipes. On the other, companies offering Web-based services and consumer advocates believe the Internet should remain neutral because if it does not, service providers can create a fast lane for their own broadband services, and a slow lane for other companies providing services over the Web.
***
Consumers are confused by IPTV, study finds
‘Net neutrality could also affect IPTV… whatever that is. Almost half of consumers don’t understand what IPTV is, although many of them want some of the features it has to offer, according to a new study. As reported by IDGNS’s Nancy Gohring, 46% of the 6,000 consumers surveyed in the U.S., the U.K., France, Germany, Spain and Italy said they don’t understand the term IPTV, according to the study by Accenture. Many of those same consumers want the services that IPTV can deliver, however.
