The frenzy leading up to a possible full House debate on net neutrality this week intensified Tues. as Google cofounder Sergey Brin made house calls on Capitol Hill. The billionaire entrepreneur, stumping for unfettered access to the Web, met with Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.), Barack Obama (D-Ill.), Gordon Smith (R-Ore.), Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) and others, he told reporters over lunch. Brin said he抯 揾oping we抣l win the argument?over net neutrality despite stiff opposition from telcos and cable giants. A floor vote could come as early as Fri., Hill watchers said. The House Rules Committee plans to meet today (Wed.) to discuss competing net neutrality measures.nnIt抯 increasingly apparent that 搕ime is on our side,?said Google Washington Policy Counsel Alan Davidson. From a business perspective, Google wouldn抰 immediately be harmed by a vote against net neutrality, he said. In fact, when he initially briefed Brin on the issue at the company's Mountain View, Cal., hq last summer, Davidson wasn抰 sure what side Google would be on. Joining AT&T, Verizon and Comcast in opposing net neutrality would have guaranteed Google抯 preeminence, since only well-financed Web businesses would be able to cut content deals with network operators, he said. But net neutrality was a no-brainer for Brin. He said the Internet抯 level playing field is what made his company a success in the first place and the tenets of an unrestricted Web experience still drive his company.
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