(24 April 2008 2:00 pm)

MUMBAI: The Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) is all for preserving the free flow of information over the Internet.

WGAW president Patric M Verrone signaled his union's support of the principle of "net neutrality" in testimony given to a hearing held by the US Senate Committee on commerce, science and transportation on The Future of the Internet.

Verrone described the disturbing trend of media ownership as being concentrated in fewer and fewer companies.

Speaking to the Committee he said, "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 his personal experience stating, "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."

Adding further he said, "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."

"Will the Internet's open and free speech forum be turned 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 -- will there be 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," he said.

In a statement after the hearing, Verrone recognised 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."