If you're AT&T, and you want to convince the American public that you can be responsible for handling the bulk of broadbrand traffic, cutting out parts of live music might not be your best idea.
But that's exactly what happened during the recent Pearl Jam's "Blue Room" Live Lollapalooza Webcast. The event monitor muted anti-George Bush lyrics, which left fans no option but to listen to a censored version of the concert.
Because AT&T had exclusive rights to the performance, the company could do what it wants to do. But blocking political speech to listeners probably isn't the best way to make friends in America, considering that it's guaranteed in the Constitution.
AT&T has apologized, but something like this just perpetuates the importance of Net Neutrality. If a handful of large corporations are in charge of Internet connectivity, Big Brother will be in control.
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