Last October, The Guardian covered Google's initial European government affairs steps in London. Now, FT reports that the company is hiring lobbyists in ten different European capitals. Regardless, The Register says that Google "snubbed" a Westminster Net Neutrality debate.
Speaking of Net Neutrality, somehow this blog has missed heralding the hire of ex-MCI regulatory lawyer Rick Whitt to the DC team even though we saw him with a hand-written Google badge at the Internet Caucus conference back in early February. Yesterday, Whitt re-explained Google's Net Neutrality position as covered by GigaOm's Paul Kapustka and as dissected by tech policy watcher Drew Clark. Clark also shames this site's occasional Google-obsession by taking the time to comment under the GigaOm piece about the "different cultures" and backgrounds that exist on the Google government affairs team and says that this will be will be "one of the more interesting stories in Internet policy for months or even years to come."
Yes, fascinating times, indeed. I can just see a reality-TV producer pitching the can't miss show of the season...
"It's the perfect office conflict reality show. We've got a Harvard Law School guy who helped run a quasi-Internet regulatory body mixing it up with a guy, who, get this went to Yale Law School!!! And, the Yale Law School guy worked at an Internet policy advocacy think tank! I know, it's pretty crazy, but wait, it gets even better. The leading lady role goes to ..... drum roll, please .... a Republican! And, she even worked in the White House.... Okay, you really need to get off the floor so I can finish this pitch.... You good? Need water? Okay. Finally, in walks a guy from a telecom company and he went to Georgetown Law! I know. Whoa...
...Wait, wait ... did I tell you that they have a DC PR guy who is also a blogger? And, even better, what's sexier than Net Neutrality?
I, for one, can't wait to program my Tivo for this.
(We kid because we love, Drew ;).
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