The news this morning seemed gloomy, and frankly, confusing. The New York Times was reporting that Google and Verizon had come to a deal wherein Google would pay Big Red carriage fees to ensure preferential treatment on Verizon's broadband network. A move like this could conceivably lead to more fees on users for accessing certain content online. This is completely counter to the principals of net neutrality that Google has long espoused. If true, this would have been a huge blow to net neutrality.

Just a few hours later Google's public policy Twitter account tried to clear things up saying the New York Times story is just wrong. Later in the day Google was on the offensive telling the Guardian, " The New York Times is quite simply wrong. We have not had any conversations with Verizon about paying for carriage of Google traffic. We remain as committed as we always have been to an open internet." Verizon also issued a statement saying the reports are mistaken. 

So what do you believe? Are these accusations from the Times and others based on some actual facts of the Google/Verizon relationship that we are not aware of?