The same day that the FCC asked for a delay on a net neutrality proposal that could potentially give ISPs a way to charge for preferential treatment, a coalition between major tech giants has been announced to battle the issue.
Amazon, Google, Microsoft, eBay, Facebook, Netflix, Twitter and Yahoo are leading the charge with the biggest yet collaboration to fight against the FCC’s proposed net neutrality laws.
A letter was sent on behalf of the above, and other, companies who are speaking out.
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, the letter read. 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 rules should provide certainty to all market participants and keep the costs of regulation low.
Soon after, Jessica Rosenworcel, one of the members of the five member commission dedicated to the matter, justified a recent request for delaying the proposal.
Despite this, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler released a statement through his official spokesperson denying the request.
Chairman Wheeler fully supports a robust public debate on how best to protect the Open Internet, which is why he intends to put forward his proposals for public comment next week. Moving forward will allow the American people to review and comment on the proposed plan without delay, and bring us one step closer to putting rules on the books to protect consumers and entrepreneurs online.
Wheeler has in recent months garnered increasingly hostile reactions from the public. Following the disastrous trial that found favor on the side of XFinity, and potentially paved the way for selective internet traffic, he has been accused multiple times of wavering in fear under the force of telecom companies.
His new proposal, which is effectively giving the green light for discriminatory service from an already out of control broadband monopoly, seems to push that point. His insistence of moving forward probably isn’t going to win him any fans. And he has made some very powerful enemies, if the signatures on the coalition letter are anything to go by.
Source: Letter To FCC, NY Times
