WGAW President Patric M. Verrone Voices Strong Support for "Net Neutrality" at U.S. Senate Hearing on The Future of the Internet

WASHINGTON D.C. -- The Writers Guild of America, West is speaking out to preserve the free flow of information over the Internet. WGAW President Patric M. Verrone signaled his union's support of the principle of "net neutrality" today in testimony given to a hearing held by the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on The Future of the Internet. Verrone described the disturbing trend of media ownership being concentrated in fewer and fewer companies, and told the Committee, "The policy decision that triggered the consolidation of old media has not yet been made for new media. There is still time to protect the rights of content producers and consumers. We need to establish clear net neutrality rules to ensure that the Internet remains a level playing field for all."

Calling attention to the effects of increased vertical integration throughout the entertainment industry, Verrone spoke from personal experience: "I started working in the entertainment industry 22 years ago. Almost 30 separate companies independently produced and distributed television on the "new media" of cable TV. Today, we are down to about seven vertically integrated conglomerates, controlling not only cable TV, but also broadcast, film, and even news."

Verrone continued, "This concentration of power was triggered by a policy choice. About 15 years ago, the FCC began the process of unraveling the financial and syndication rules (or fin-syn) allowing production and distribution to be jointly owned. As a result, media companies consolidated, conglomerated, and congealed into the handful of multinational entities that today employ nearly everyone working in our industry, decimating independent production and content diversity."

The WGAW supports net neutrality in order to preserve equal access to the Internet, calling it essential to maintain free expression for creative artists, content creators, and users alike, and to ensure a level playing field for all, no matter the online distribution channel or new media platform.

"Will the Internet's open and free speech forum be turned it into a walled garden of content control? Will entertainment, information, and marketing platforms be available to all or just those who can afford to pay for them? Will the new media be dominated by the gate keepers that dominate the old media -- be they multinational monopolies of TV and film or regional duopolies of cable and telephone service?" Verrone asked the Committee.

He outlined a promising interactive forecast for New Media, with the potential to inform, inspire, and empower creative artists and online users alike: "The Internet holds incredible potential to resurrect a vibrant industry of independent creators with free access to, and distribution of, democratic - with a small 'd' - content."

In a statement after the hearing, Verrone recognized the chief authors of the bill for their efforts: "I applaud Senators Dorgan and Snowe for introducing Senate Bill 215, the Internet Freedom and Preservation Act. This bill will insure that the Internet remains an open and innovative marketplace. The WGAW looks forward to working with Senators Dorgan and Snowe, and all of the Senators to insure that this critical legislation soon becomes law."

For a copy of WGAW President Verrone's complete testimony given before the U.S. Senate Committee, click here: net_neutrality.pdf.

The Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) represents writers in the motion picture, broadcast, cable, and new media industries in both entertainment and news. For more information, please visit: www.wga.org.