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The FCC has extended the period of public comment on its Proposed Rule 47 CFR Part 8 Preserving the Open Internet, Broadband Industry Practices (GN Docket No. 09–191; WC Docket No. 07–52; FCC 09–93) to April 26, 2010.
This is the rule commonly known as Net Neutrality, in which the FCC proposes to "require a broadband Internet access service provider to treat lawful content, applications, and services in a nondiscriminatory manner; and [...] require a broadband Internet access service provider to disclose such information concerning network management and other practices as is reasonably required for users and content, application, and service providers to enjoy the protections specified in this rulemaking. "
In other words, the FCC is hoping to prevent internet service providers from charging content providers fees (or applying some other discriminatory rule) in order for internet/web content to be made available to consumers of the internet service. This is in reaction to proposals by major internet providers such as comcast to charge fees for full speed content provision -- content providers that do not pay these fees would have their content delivered to consumers more slowly, putting them at a competitive disadvantage and potentially damaging the internet experience for everyone as new or non-corporate web content gets delivered more slowly (or not at all) to subscribers.
If you would like to comment on this proposal, go to the FCC's electronic comment filing system, click on "Submit a Filing (Express)", and then click on Proceeding number 09-191. NOTE: The filing you make will be a public filing. Any information that you submit will be available to the general public.
You might also consider letting your congressional representatives know if you support giving the FCC explicit authority to regulate both wired and wireless broadband service providers.
This is the rule commonly known as Net Neutrality, in which the FCC proposes to "require a broadband Internet access service provider to treat lawful content, applications, and services in a nondiscriminatory manner; and [...] require a broadband Internet access service provider to disclose such information concerning network management and other practices as is reasonably required for users and content, application, and service providers to enjoy the protections specified in this rulemaking. "
In other words, the FCC is hoping to prevent internet service providers from charging content providers fees (or applying some other discriminatory rule) in order for internet/web content to be made available to consumers of the internet service. This is in reaction to proposals by major internet providers such as comcast to charge fees for full speed content provision -- content providers that do not pay these fees would have their content delivered to consumers more slowly, putting them at a competitive disadvantage and potentially damaging the internet experience for everyone as new or non-corporate web content gets delivered more slowly (or not at all) to subscribers.
If you would like to comment on this proposal, go to the FCC's electronic comment filing system, click on "Submit a Filing (Express)", and then click on Proceeding number 09-191. NOTE: The filing you make will be a public filing. Any information that you submit will be available to the general public.
You might also consider letting your congressional representatives know if you support giving the FCC explicit authority to regulate both wired and wireless broadband service providers.
