I was surprised to read in today's New York Times that Verizon and Google are on the verge of a deal to allow content creators to pay for special treatment online. The article claimed:

The charges could be paid by companies, like YouTube, owned by Google, for example, to Verizon, one of the nation's leading Internet service providers, to ensure that its content received priority as it made its way to consumers. The agreement could eventually lead to higher charges for Internet users.

It seemed like a strange move for Google. The company has previously criticized efforts to pass legislation that would end net neutrality.

Indeed, hours later there were denials from both Verizon and Google. Verizon's statement, attributed to executive director of media relations David Fish, is a bit obtuse:

The NYT article regarding conversations between Google and Verizon is mistaken. It fundamentally misunderstands our purpose. As we said in our earlier FCC filing, our goal is an Internet policy framework that ensures openness and accountability, and incorporates specific FCC authority, while maintaining investment and innovation. To suggest this is a business arrangement between our companies is entirely incorrect.

The explanation of Verizon's goal remains murky, but it's clear that the company didn't like the article.

Here's Google's denial, posted in the Twitter stream of its public policy team:

@NYTimes is wrong. We've not had any convos with VZN about paying for carriage of our traffic. We remain committed to an open internet.

It's possible I've been taken in by Google's sunshine-filled talk about open Internet standards, but in this case I believe these denials. Google's not afraid to take an advantage and press it, but I don't think straight payola is the company's style.

Google definitely wants the Internet to get faster--see any number of initiatives, including Chrome, Fiber, and the experimental protocol SPDY. But I doubt they'd pay Verizon anything to speed up delivery of YouTube content. It's more like Google to take that money and hire a bunch of engineers to figure out how to speed up YouTube with a new algorithm or protocol.

Starting tomorrow, YouTube will offer video rentals, according to a post on the site's official blog. The first available content will be five films from the 2009 and 2010 Sundance Film Festivals, and they will be online until January 31.

Instead of taking on Hulu, iTunes, and Netflix directly with offers of high-profile Hollywood films, YouTube seems to be positioning itself for a different audience of moviegoers and filmmakers. According to the blog post:

While YouTube has offered an easy and economical way for filmmakers--as well as content creators of all kinds--to instantaneously connect with fans around the world, many of them have told us that the ad-supported business model doesn't always meet their distribution and monetization needs. [...] We're also excited to put out the call for more independent filmmakers to join the rental program as part of our "Filmmakers Wanted" campaign at the festival.

Exact details of how the rentals will work aren't yet available, but the company says they will post more tomorrow. It has said, however, that money will be collected through Google Checkout.

Barack Obama came to office promising to "use cutting-edge technologies to create a new level of transparency, accountability, and participation" in government. Now, that pledge is about to get its first real test.

The administration has just launched a website to explain the details of the $787 billion stimulus package that Obama signed into law yesterday. Right now the site lays out the package of tax cuts and spending in broad-brush terms. But it promises to eventually provide maps, charts, graphics--and raw data in exportable form--to show which states, Congressional districts, and even contractors are receiving the money.

This would be a first-of-a-kind technology effort by the federal government. The body overseeing these data dumps will be the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board, a panel of government inspectors that will be created as part of the stimulus law.

"Instead of politicians doling out money behind closed doors, the important decisions about where taxpayer dollars are invested will be yours to scrutinize," Obama pledges in a You Tube video posted on the site.