Google, Verizon Net Neutrality Plans Are Announced
Email
Print
title=New Enforcement Provisions}
Both companies shared a vision of what they referred to as "the
formulation of an enlightened, sustainable Internet policy for the United
States," in a January 2010 filing with
the FCC. In that filing, the companies stressed the necessity of preserving
openness, encouraging investment, providing users with control and information,
and keeping applications, content and services free from regulation. The filing
also suggested an important role for TAGs (technical advisory groups) for
developing best practices, dispute resolution and coordination with standards-setting
bodies.
In the Aug. 9 joint policy proposal, which was published simultaneously with
the press conference, Google and Verizon pointed out that both companies have
long been proponents of the FCC's current wire-line broadband openness
policies, and stated that they believe it's critical to ensure that consumers
have access to all legal content.
In addition, the joint statement called for new, enforceable prohibitions
against discriminatory practices that would harm consumers or provide harm to
competition. The statement said broadband providers should not be able to favor
particular Internet traffic over other traffic.
The two companies also called for consumers to be fully informed about their
Internet experiences, and said providers should give consumers clear,
understandable information about the services they offer and their
capabilities.
The proposal also asks for new enforcement provisions for the FCC
following the Comcast decision. Enforcement would be handled on a case-by-case
basis, and would include fines of up to $2 million dollars. The proposal does
not specify what sort of legal or legislative framework would give this power
to the FCC.
Other items in the proposal call for support for innovation, a special
process in which the Government Accountability Office would produce updates on
wireless technology to Congress annually, and support for the reform of the
federal Universal Service Fund to better support broadband deployment to rural
areas.
The goal of the policy proposal, according to Schmidt, is to ensure that the
Internet remains open and available for innovation. Rejecting suggestions that
Google is planning a suite of premium services for extra pay, he said, "Google
is dependent on the open Internet." Schmidt added that Google could never
have achieved the place it now occupies without it, and he said he thinks it's
critical for the next Google or the next YouTube to have as good a chance of
success as his company has had.
Wayne Rash is a Senior Analyst for eWEEK Labs and runs the magazineÃÃÃs Washington Bureau. Prior to joining eWEEK as a Senior Writer on wireless technology, he was a Senior Contributing Editor and previously a Senior Analyst in the InfoWorld Test Center. He was also a reviewer for Federal Computer Week and Information Security Magazine. Previously, he ran the reviews and events departments at CMP's InternetWeek.He is a retired naval officer, a former principal at American Management Systems and a long-time columnist for Byte Magazine. He is a regular contributor to Plane & Pilot Magazine and The Washington Post.
