A series of tubes

Everyone makes misstatements from time to time. Last week, while on vacation, I was pulled over by police for driving under the influence, and because I was drunk, I ranted to the arresting officer that all the world’s problems are attributable to Juniper Networks. Why do I keep doing that? That’s crazy.

Also last week, I wrote in this column that Motorola and Alcatel both issued “their own press releases” following Verizon Communications’ announcement of its chosen GPON vendors, while Tellabs (the other chosen vendor) did not. Actually, what Alcatel and Motorola sent out to the media that day was a copy of Verizon’s press release. Tellabs did not follow suit because, according to the company, the vendor didn’t see a need to repeat the announcement. (As to my question of what Tellabs knew when, the company isn’t talking.)

But as misstatements go, am I the only one who thinks Alaska Senator Ted Stevens was unfairly lambasted for his comments about the Internet? In a June 28 speech on Internet neutrality, Stevens, who wields considerable influence over Internet regulation, said, “An Internet was sent by my staff at 10:00 in the morning on Friday, and I just got it yesterday. Why?” I’m assuming he meant to say “e-mail” and misspoke, but if not, he surely deserves criticism. However, what most people have ridiculed him for is another comment in the same speech: “The Internet is not something you just dump something on,” he said. “It's not a big truck. It's a series of tubes.”

The media and the blogosphere excoriated Stevens, as if he imagined the Internet to be comprised of those pneumatic tubes used by drive-through banks. You can now buy t-shirts, mugs and tote bags with the phrase “series of tubes” on them. There are even dance songs composed around samples of Stevens’ words. And yes, the Internet’s content actually resides on a network of servers. But much of that network--which enables the transmission of Internet traffic--is made up of optical fibers, which are literally glass tubes. So was Stevens so wrong? Still, even when some people tried to defend Stevens, he defended himself by telling Reuters, “I have a letter from a big scientist who said I was absolutely right.” I’m hoping to be able to buy a t-shirt with that phrase on it soon.

Send me an email at egubbins@prismb2b.com.