Friday, November 21, 2014

FCC Delays Net Neutrality Vote To 2015

The Federal Communications Commission will not vote on new net neutrality rules before 2015, with commission Chairman Tom Wheeler caught between the wishes of President Barack Obama and Internet providers like Comcast on how the agency can best ensure all Web traffic is treated equally.

According to USNews & World Report, the rules will not be on the agenda for the commission's meeting on Friday or its December session, FCC spokeswoman Kim Hart says, meaning the issue won't get a vote this year. The delay follows the commission’s choice this summer to extend the public comment period on the proposed rules, which resulted in nearly 4 million submissions – many from people concerned the regulations could damage competition and access to content online if not written carefully.

Delaying a vote on revisions to the proposed rules, which were first introduced in May, could give Internet providers like Comcast and Verizon more time to pressure Wheeler to draft rules that would favor their businesses. Wheeler has said the Title II approach "is on the table,” but is reportedly still torn on whether to go that route.

A current proposal from Wheeler has been broadly criticized for its potential to enable companies to charge for priority Internet speeds, which could disadvantage websites that cannot afford the extra expense and create new costs that Web businesses might pass on to consumers. Allowing such “fast lanes” could have a particularly damaging impact on sites that rely on download speeds, potentially lowering options online for gaming, chatting or any services that use video, ranging from education to adult entertainment.

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