For those of you in America hoping that the FCC would defy pressure from Congress and implement net neutrality without Google’s help may need a shoulder to cry upon as it looks like the government is officially giving up.

Mr. Genachowski said Wednesday his proposal would forbid major Internet broadband providers from secretly blocking or interfering with “lawful Internet traffic.”

But in a concession to broadband providers, the chairman’s new proposal, which will go before the rest of the commission on Dec. 21, would allow the industry to continue to charge higher rates for higher levels of access and gives the companies the right to continue to limit access as needed to better manage the demands on their networks.

The proposed new regulations also backed away from earlier plans to extend control over the mobile phone industry. (Washington Times)

Although Genachowski is attempting to spin this as some sort of positive development, truth be told it’s unlikely that event he watered down version of the bill will survive as it pleases no one (and will face attack from conservatives and progressives ensuring its death).

With even the mighty Google giving up on net neutrality, it looks like folks in the US will continue to be at the mercy of their carriers (assuming they have more than two choices available), which may lead to a more costly internet in the future instead of a more affordable one.

Originally posted on December 2, 2010 @ 4:09 pm

After Google stabbed the government in the back by advocating Verizon’s approach to wireless internet, it looks like the FCC is scheduling a meeting to discuss how it will be able to keep the internet free of corporate interference for consumers.

Unfortunately for net neutrality advocates, it looks like the FCC is once again pushing back the meeting which is making some people nervous.

On Wednesday, the Federal Communications Commission pushed back its December meeting by one week — from Dec. 15 to Dec. 21 — which means the agency doesn’t have to publish the meeting agenda until next week. That means the public won’t know if new rules will be taken up or what form they will take until next week. […]
That means more uncertainty for both the public and the broadband industry over the government’s plans to regulate the internet. It’s just the latest delay by the government on the issue of network neutrality, the principle that broadband companies should shouldn’t block or degrade rival web content, services or applications. The delay also pushes the FCC’s meeting to the week of Christmas, typically a slow news week. (Wired.com)

Ironically there are  a few ISP’s (aka Internet Service Providers) who support the idea of net neutrality, although truth be told the FCC will have to convince congress (especially Republicans) on why greater government oversight is good for the internet (lest the party responds by defunding the agency).

Unfortunately for the FCC, they have an uphill battle convincing the public as well, especially in light of their sister agency’s attempt to regulate the political blogosphere (which not surprisingly backfired).

Although America needs to come up with a solution to ensure that everyone is treated equal on the internet without having to pay a premium tier fee, it might be wiser for the FCC to partner with companies instead, lest we hear another outcry of “government takeover” online.

Originally posted on November 24, 2010 @ 4:30 pm