FCC Gives Up on Net Neutrality Talks

By Geoff Duncan August 6, 2010

The Federal Communications Commission has cancelled its series of closed door meetings with major Internet companies and stakeholders on the topic of network neutrality, on the heels of criticism the process did not have enough public input…and after reports that Google and Verizon were drawing up their own framework/deal stole the show.

The meetings had been intended to draw up a regulatory framework for protecting consumer access to content, applications, and services on the Internet—both via wire lines and mobile devices—while still providing an environment that will attract the investment necessary to build out broadband infrastructure in the United States. The resulting framework would then be presented to Congress as a blueprint for net neutrality legislation.

There is no indication yet how the FCC will proceed. The agency could simply attempt to directly regulate Internet access providers—an authority that has been signifiantly undercut by Comcast’s court victory regarding P2P blocking. However, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski has indicated he believes the agency has sufficient regulatory authority to enforce many net neutrality terms. However, for the FCC to have full authority to regulate broadband in the United States, Congress will likely have to pass legislation granting such authority to the agency.

News of the FCC giving up on net neutrality hearings comes just as news has been breaking that Google and Verizon have been working on their own net neutrality deal. Although both companies deny they have been investigating a business relationship that would give Google priority access to Verizon networks, the companies apparently plan to unveil their own proposal for net neutrality legislation…and these sideline talks have apparently undermined the FCC’s own efforts to find common ground in the industry.

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Computing

Congress has until Monday to save net neutrality and keep the internet open

senate overturns fcc net neutrality repeal chuck schumer nancy pelosi

Despite efforts last month by Democrats in the United States Senate to pass legislation to preserve the rules governing an open and free internet, net neutrality may still be coming to an end on Monday. The Senate passed its version of a bill to retain rules that were recently reversed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), thus saving net neutrality, in a 52 to 47 vote, with all Democrats in favor and several Republicans crossing the aisle. However, in order for the House of Representatives to take action, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan must call for a vote on the issue.

"The rules that this resolution would restore were enacted by the FCC in 2015 to prevent broadband providers from blocking, slowing down, prioritizing, or otherwise unfairly discriminating against internet traffic that flows across their networks," Senate Democrats led by Chuck Schumer of New York, Bill Nelson of Florida, and Brian Schatz of Hawaii wrote in a letter to Ryan urging him to call for a vote. "Without these protections, broadband providers can decide what content gets through to consumers at what speeds and could use this power to discriminate against their competitors or other content."

Gaming

Net neutrality bomb threat suspect has a history of hoax calls

swatting katherine clark swat team

A federal grand jury has indicted Tyler Barriss on two counts of making hoax bomb threats, including one that famously delayed the Federal Communications Commission's vote to repeal net neutrality in December, Engadget reports. He called a similar bomb threat into the FBI headquarters later that same month. Barriss was already in police custody, however, charged with manslaughter for orchestrating a "swatting" that resulted in the death of 28-year-old Andrew Finch in Wichita, Kansas, also last December.

The December 14 bomb threat to the FCC only temporarily delayed Chairman Ajit Pai's effort to repeal Barack Obama-era regulations for ensuring a fair and open internet. The U.S. Senate recently voted by a narrow margin to overturn the FCC's ruling, but the bill faces an uphill battle through the House of Representatives and a particularly business-friendly White House in order to keep net neutrality alive.

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U.S. Senate votes to overturn FCC’s repeal of net neutrality protections

senate overturns fcc net neutrality repeal chuck schumer nancy pelosi

The United States Senate on Wednesday voted in favor of reversing the Federal Communications Commission's recent order to end net neutrality protection in a narrow 52-to-47 victory. In order for bill to pass the Senate, a simple majority was needed, but 50 senators had already declared support for the preservation of net neutrality prior to Wednesday's vote. Senate Democrats used the powers granted to the legislative branch under the Congressional Review Act to potentially overturn regulations created by federal agencies, like the FCC's decision to end requirements for net neutrality.

All 49 Democrats in the Senate voted in favor of the bill, along with Republicans Susan Collins of Maine, John Kennedy of Louisiana, and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. The bill is now headed to the House of Representatives, where Democrats must convince at least 25 Republicans to cross the aisle in a similar simple majority vote. Democrats argue that the net neutrality regulations would create an open internet, as it prevents internet service providers (ISP) from discriminating against certain types of web traffic. Many Republicans consider these requirements burdensome for internet providers, and that competition in an open market will allow industry players to self-govern.