FCC axes neutrality talks after lobbyist impasse

The FCC today brought a halt to talks with political lobbyists from carriers after the two sides couldn't reach an agreement over network neutrality. Agency Chief of Staff Edward Lazarus claimed the discussions had been "productive on several fronts" but that they had stalled and wouldn't "preserve the openness and freedom of the Internet." He didn't rule out further conversation but said options were open at this stage.

Both wired and wireless carriers have been talking to the FCC with the hopes of dissuading it from following its reclassification of broadband, which would use parts of the same rules that govern landline phones to require equal treatment of traffic from competitors or that based on particular technologies. Net neutrality advocates had feared that the secretive talks were a sign the FCC would concede important parts of its reform and allow carriers to dictate government policy.

The statements echo those by FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, who today said he wouldn't compromise neutrality if Google and Verizon struck a rumored deal that saw Google drop attempts to push for neutrality on cellphones. Unlike recent past administrations, the current FCC has been more aggressive about criticizing consolidation and slow deployments and was the first in many years to complain that cellular competition was getting worse.

By Electronista Staff