Tech giants oppose US regulator’s move on fast lanes
08 May 2014
Internet companies including Amazon.com, Google, Netflix and Microsoft said in a letter that they opposed the call by a US regulator to allow companies to pay for fast lanes on the internet.
According to the companies, the rules might allow phone and cable providers to ''discriminate both technically and financially against internet companies'' and ''impose new tolls on them.''
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman Tom Wheeler had proposed allowing service providers such as AT&T and Comcast to negotiate deals with content makers for quicker and more reliable delivery of their video as also other fare.
According to Wheeler, the idea did not abandon internet fairness policy of the FCC, commonly known as ''net neutrality.'' His proposal was set for an initial vote at the FCC on 15 May.
The companies said in the letter addressed to Wheeler and the four other FCC commissioners that this represented a grave threat to the internet.
According to the companies, the FCC needed to protect users and internet companies against blocking of web traffic, discrimination and paid prioritisation.
A court in January rejected FCC rules aimed at ensuring web traffic was handled fairly, and the agency was seeking new rules (See: US court hits net neutrality; allows Verizon, other ISPs to charge for traffic).
"According to recent news reports, the Commission intends to propose rules that would enable phone and cable internet service providers to discriminate both technically and financially against Internet companies and to impose new tolls on them," reads the letter the tech companies sent to the FCC yesterday. "If these reports are correct, this represents a grave threat to the Internet."
"Instead of permitting individualized bargaining and discrimination, the Commission's rules should protect users and Internet companies on both fixed and mobile platforms against blocking, discrimination, and paid prioritization, and should make the market for Internet services more transparent," the letter continues. "Such rules are essential for the future of the Internet."
The past few weeks had seen Wheeler engage with critics of the proposal saying that he was all for an open internet. In a blog post, he pledged to use "every available power" to prevent ISPs from degrading service for the benefit of a few.
However, it seemed a number of people had not been persuaded -- including two of Wheeler's fellow commissioners.
Democratic commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Mignon Clyburn both issued statements yesterday in which they raised questions on Wheeler's proposal.
