Broadband cable avoiding net neutrality issue

At the same time big telecom broadband service providers such as AT&T (formerly SBC) and BellSouth are making all sorts of noise about charging content creators of rich content extra for network carriage, the cable companies haven't been that vocal.

Not by a long shot.

Today, cable industry trade paper Multichannel News explores the issue, commonly referred to as "net neutrality."

"Right now, MSOs (Multi System Operators, the industry term for big cable companies) aren't taking a stance on the issue," reports Multichannel News' Mike Farrell. "Of the top five companies in the country," Mike writes, Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Charter Communications have declined comment, while Cablevision and Cox representatives didn't return the publication's calls.

But here's a nugget for ya:

"Privately, some oeprators say they are content to let the telcos bear the brunt of the criticism" (for making noises about premium content carriage charges)," Mike reports. " 'We're watching them take a little bit of heat, ' " Mike quotes a cable executive who wished not to be named. "We are studiously avoiding this issue for now."