Google Strikes Back Against "Nonsensical" AT&T in Broadband Spat

Google (GOOG) has struck back against AT&T (T) in the ongoing battle over net neutrality, the idea that broadband providers like AT&T should generally treat all web content equally and not discriminate against services that compete with their own offerings. In a letter to the FCC, AT&T complained that Google Voice, the search giant's voice-over-Internet service, is violating net neutrality principles.

In response, Google said that AT&T's complaint "just doesn't fly." And some experts and pro-network neutrality advocates suggest that the idea of AT&T, a longtime opponent of net neutrality, now complaining about supposed violations is, well, absurd.

"This is nonsensical because Google Voice is not an Internet service provider. It does not route Internet traffic," Lucas Gonze, a broadband network expert and former Director of Product Management at Yahoo! Music, told DailyFinance. "It's bamboozlement for AT&T to pretend that there's no difference between what they do and what Google Voice does."

It's also strikes some as amusing. As Techcrunch MG Siegler points out, "What's hilarious here is that AT&T (and Verizon) just got done saying that net neutrality should not apply to wireless communications mere days ago."

Derek Turner, research director of Free Press, a Washington, DC-based pro-net neutrality group, called AT&T's letter a "red herring" in a statement.

"It appears to be a political stunt to distract attention from the important work the FCC has begun on Network Neutrality," Turner said. "Whether Google Voice should be subject to the same rules as a traditional telephone service has absolutely nothing to do with Net Neutrality rules."

Read the thrilling conclusion to this article at DailyFinance.com.