One of the most frequently asked questions in the net neutrality debate has been why big Internet companies like Google and Microsoft support regulation so strongly. If, as they say, an unregulated market would squeeze out the little guy, you’d think these big companies would be dead set against regulation. And if opponents are right, regulation would make the Internet on which these companies depend much less efficient.
This should make more than a few shareholders of these companies nervous. So much so that one group–the Free Enterprise Action Fund–wants a shareholder vote to require Microsoft to prepare a report on its stance toward this regulation.
The Fund, it should be noted, is not a neutral observer. It is a mutual fund specifically geared toward “investment and advocacy to promote the American system of free enterprise.” But it raises a reasonable point. “We feel they should be worried about innovation and competition rather than perhaps running to the government for regulation,” says Tom Borelli of the Fund. ” “If they have thought this through and they know what they’re doing, what’s wrong with a report to your shareholders explaining your rationale?” he asks.
Good points. Of course, the proposed shareholder vote will probably not take place–corporation law provides plenty of ways to avoid such embarrassing things. Still, it would be interesting to see such a vote, and if Microsoft shareholders think regulation is in their best interest.
The Technology Liberation Front is the tech policy blog dedicated to keeping politicians' hands off the 'net and everything else related to technology.
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