roundtable: Conduit Controlling Content

roundtable: Conduit Controlling Content

Conduit Controlling Content

Matt York (myork@videomaker.com)
Fri, 17 Mar 1995 09:08:24 -0800 

Date: Fri, 17 Mar 1995 09:08:24 -0800
Message-Id: <199503171708.JAA18712@video.hidden.videomaker.com>
To: roundtable@cni.org
From: myork@videomaker.com (Matt York)
Subject: Conduit Controlling Content


The disturbing thing about Microsoft is identical to the disturbing 
thing about TCI. These enormous conduit owners are in a position to 
dominate the content that travels in their conduit. Microsoft's 
operating system is, essentially, a virtual conduit. Windows is an 
item through which, users access computer programs.

This conduit controlling content (plumbing) problem is not new. The 
railroad barons were barred from owning content around the turn of the 
century. Since they control the transportation of goods, they began to 
control the goods themselves. As many of your know Teddy Roosevelt 
and the Interstate Commerce Commission came to the rescue with 
"common carrier" regulations. Until recently, the telcos have operated 
largely under the same regulations. They could move information on their 
wires, but they couldn't own any of it.

There have been battles between AT&T and newspaper publishers (for the 
control of classified advertising) based upon the same problems. The 
phone company has been in a position to offer classified advertising by 
phone/modem. Publishers didn't like that. Prior to that there were 
battle between wire services and the phone company. AT&T wanted to get 
into the same business as UPI and AP, but the common carrier regulations 
prevented them from doing so.

What I find curious is that few people are reflecting on the origins 
of the concept of common carriage. I believe that it began in Europe 
surrounding the control of canals. A few wealthy businessmen built 
canals between cities that made it very easy for a horse to pull 
several tons of cargo loaded on a barge. This concept greatly reduced 
the horse power requirements of moving goods around Europe and the 
businessmen who built them became very powerful. They essentially were 
in a position to "control and restrain" trade. The government stepped 
in and created common carriage.

It seems we'd have allot to gain by reflecting on similar 
infrastructure changes that have taken place in our past and applying 
the lessons learned. 

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Matt York, Videomaker Inc; internet: myork@videomaker.com
920 Main Street, Chico, CA 95926; v 916-891-8410 fax 916-891-8443 
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