FCC Hits Wall With Private Net Neutrality Talks

The direct talks between Google and Verizon would seem to take on a new importance now that the Federal Communications Commission has hit a wall in its efforts to get the major stakeholders to agree on the outlines of a net neutrality solution. The formal end of the private stakeholder meetings, which have been said to have been unable to move forward on any of the key issues, now have been formally ended.

That means any agreement Google and Verizon can reach, even though it is a voluntary set of agreements, assumes greater importance as a way of crafting a compromise agreement potentially able to garner wider support, and avoid a nasty, litigious process that will slow, not expedite, faster innovation and investment in broadband access facilities.

If the talks have failed to reach consensus. it likely is at least in part because some stakeholders will not budge on re-regulation of broadband access as a common carrier service.

Net neutrality supporters say the only option they want is the Commission classifying ISPs as common carriers based on Title II of the Communications Act." That is pretty much a deal breaker for ISPs, both telco and cable, so it is obvious why the talks got no serious traction.

Net neutrality fans cheer as FCC gives up on "backroom" talks