Chair Wheeler Talks With FCC 'Occupiers'

A small band of net neutrality advocates who have pitched their tents beside the U.S. Federal Communications Commission hope that their on-the-ground activism can counterbalance well-funded lobbying efforts by large broadband providers, according to pcworld.com.

The small group of protestors, which had grown from two on May 7 to about 15 Tuesday night, is calling on the FCC to regulate broadband as a common-carrier, utility-style service, as an alternative to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler’s recent proposal for net neutrality rules that allow broadband carriers to engage in “commercially reasonable” traffic management.

The “Occupy the FCC” protestors, in advocating for the FCC to regulate broadband in the same way as it treats traditional telecom services, are swimming upstream against several large broadband providers and dozens of members of Congress. The FCC is scheduled Thursday to vote on whether to officially release Wheeler’s proposal and open it up to public comment, and Wheeler met with the small group Wednesday morning.

By reclassifying broadband as a common-carrier telecom service, the “FCC has greater ability to regulate in the public interest,” said Margaret Flowers of nearby Baltimore, an activist with PopularResistance.org who has been camping out at the FCC for a week. “We don’t want to see any backroom deals cut with the telecom giants to undercut the public interest.”

While Wheeler seemed to still favor his net neutrality proposal during the meeting, protestors said they believe they’re having an impact on the FCC. Three of the commission’s five members have talked with the protestors since last Friday.

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