This is an off-topic rant, except for the fact that it deals with blogging.

NPR just talked to their sports guy, Stephan Pastis, who reported that a reporter at the College World Series was kicked out of the press box for blogging during the game. He had been warned, before and during the game, that this was a violation of the broadcasting company’s media rights. This may not have bothered me so much had I not just read up on the Net Neutrality website about how the big communication companies feel such a need to get a return on their investment in their “pipes.”

It must be said that I’m not fond of big companies, in general. This sentiment, in part, stems from a learned hatred for inept bureaucracy. But what I don’t understand is why these companies seem solely interested in their bottom line, the happiness of their stock holders, the salary of the CEO. Increasing their market share seems more important than the desires of their customers, in the case of so many companies.

And how bad would it be for companies like the communication giants to give something back. I know that my generation, in part, is more interested in the good they can do for society, for improving culture, in comparison to most 40 year old businessmen. And my working for a non-profit may also color my idea of big business. What if Verizon and AT&T just rolled with the idea of the internet and allowed anyone to use their pipes? What if reporters were allowed to blog from stadiums? Would the corporate world come crashing to a halt.

I doubt it.

And allowing such things would be great PR for these behemoths. Especially for the first one to do it. Bring back service; bring back “the customer is always right.”