FCC To Take Up Net Neutrality This Month

The FCC plans to tackle at a December 21 meeting contentious Internet traffic rules intended to prohibit broadband providers from blocking or slowing some traffic.

According to a Reuters story, The Federal Communications Commission announced on Wednesday a tentative agenda for its next meeting that included an order to adopt regulations "to preserve the open Internet as a platform for innovation, investment, competition and free expression."

The agency said the rules would protect the transmission of lawful Internet traffic for consumers, while giving broadband providers the flexibility to manage their networks.

So-called net neutrality rules would determine whether high-speed Internet providers such as Comcast Corp and Verizon Communications Inc should be allowed to block or slow content information, or charge for a "fast lane" to reach users more quickly.

Read more here.

Reuters is also reporting the FCC Tuesday  proposed freeing up more airwaves for wireless services to meet the expanding use of handheld devices.

The Commission voted unanimously on Tuesday to seek public comment on proposals that include the use of some broadcast television airwaves for wireless devices.

"The explosive growth of mobile communications threatens to outpace the infrastructure on which it relies," FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski told an FCC open meeting.

The FCC is looking to entice broadcasters to give up some of their airwaves so that consumers can better download data on smart phones like Research in Motion Ltd's BlackBerry and Apple Inc's iPhone and other wireless devices.

Read more here.