House Democrats Urge FCC to Act on Internet Neutrality Amid Google-Verizon Deal Talks

A senior House Democrat, Edward J. Markey, has urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to act swiftly on new rules for managing Internet traffic, amid reports of a potential Google-Verizon deal on the matter. The proposed deal would compromise the FCC's efforts to regulate "network neutrality," a policy aimed at preventing broadband service providers from blocking certain traffic or establishing tiered pathways for Internet content.

Key Takeaways:

House Democrat Edward J. Markey warned that a potential Google-Verizon deal on network neutrality would undermine the FCC's efforts to regulate the Internet and stifle innovation.
Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Chairman John D. Rockefeller IV rejected the idea of private deals on network neutrality, stating that "no agreements without the FCC and the Commerce Committee."
FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski has been working on net neutrality rules, despite private talks with stakeholders, including Google, Verizon, and AT&T, that haven't yielded an agreement.
Rep. Anna G. Eshoo expressed concerns that the reported side deals by companies risk undermining Genachowski's efforts on net neutrality.
Critics have worried that private network neutrality talks might result in a deal that would substitute for the prospective network neutrality rulemaking or regulatory proceeding.

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The FCC is currently developing new rules for network neutrality.
The debate on network neutrality is part of ongoing discussions among stakeholders on Capitol Hill, with top House and Senate lawmakers preparing to rewrite communications law.
The FCC has been meeting privately with a small group of stakeholders, including representatives of Google, Verizon, and AT&T, to negotiate a possible set of network neutrality regulations.
The private talks have not yielded an agreement, and the FCC has announced that the talks are over.

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