Big name websites back net neutrality

genachowski1 Big name websites back net neutrality Bosses of some of the internet’s best-known websites have called for the Federal Communications Commission to stick to its plans to enforce net neutrality principles. It follows lobbying by 72 Democrat congressmen asking the FCC to go easy on the policy.

The congressmen letter (PDF, via Wall Street Journal), which follows similar feedback from 11 state governors and 18 Republican senators, does not outright condemn net neutrality: the principle that internet carriers should treat all types of traffic (besides illegal content) equally. However, the writers urge the commission to consider the effects that government regulation may have on competition and investment by private firms.

In one of those curious situations that political language sometime throws up, the new letter supporting net neutrality (PDF, via WSJ) also cites competition as key. Whereas the politicians are referring to competition between internet carriers, this letter says net neutrality is vital to ensure fair competition between websites, particularly online businesses. It says that in an open Internet, “consumers make the ultimate choices about which products succeed and which fail.”

The letter is signed by senior figures from Amazon, eBay, Craigslist, Google, Skype, Mozilla, YouTube and Twitter among others. It’s also signed by chiefs of some offline companies including Tivo and Sony.

The commission, led by Julius Genachowski (pictured), is understood to have prepared proposed rules for enforcing net neutrality, though they won’t be unveiled until they are discussed at an open meeting on Thursday. The commissioners will vote on whether to adopt the proposals as FCC policy; a yes vote would not turn them into rules, but rather start the rulemaking process.

In an unusual move, the commission is inviting public feedback about the issue through its blog, both in advance of the vote and during any rulemaking process. However, the comments before the vote “will not intrude on the Commission’s decision making.” Traditionally such feedback would be restricted for fear of being seen as inappropriate lobbying in the run-up to a vote.

Popularity: unranked

If You Like This Post Share it With Your Friends:

AT&T employees asked to turn lobbyist over net neutrality
An AT&T executive has asked the firm’s employees to contact the Federal Communication Commission and argue against its plans to enforce net n ...
AT&T employees asked to turn lobbyist over net neutrality
An AT&T executive has asked the firm’s employees to contact the Federal Communication Commission and argue against its plans to enforce net ne ...
FCC will propose net neutrality rules
In a move that will make a start to keeping one of Barack Obama’s campaign promises, the FCC will be proposing a set of rules aimed at preserving ...
FCC launches the battle for the airwaves
The Federal Communications Commission is asking for public feedback in a row over the allocation of airwave frequencies. Its chief Julius Genacho ...
Intel’s antitrust woes cross the Atlantic
Intel is facing a federal antitrust lawsuit from New York’s Attorney General over claims it used “bribery and coercion” to maintain its market sh ...

By Blogsdna

You Also Like These Posts:

‹ Apple builds a grad school in iTunes Stop skin wrinkles ›

Posted by Sana Iqbal on Oct 19th, 2009 and filed under Others Stuff, Technolgy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response by filling following comment form or trackback to this entry from your site