Genachowski Says He's Still Committed To Net Neutrality
August 5, 2010
| 2:49 PM
Any deal on net neutrality that does not preserve the openness of the Internet will not be acceptable, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said Thursday at the commission's monthly public meeting, CongressDaily reported.
His comment came in response to questions from reporters about news of a possible deal between Verizon and Google on Internet traffic management. Some stakeholders on both sides of the debate over network neutrality, the idea that broadband providers should not be allowed to discriminate against Internet content, have been meeting behind closed doors with FCC officials on the issue.
Both Google and Verizon Thursday strongly denied one the latest reports claiming the two firms are close to a deal. The New York Times reported that Verizon and Google are "nearing an agreement that could allow Verizon to speed some online content to Internet users more quickly if the content's creators are willing to pay for the privilege." Some of the mobile phones offered by Verizon Wireless use Google's Android operating system.
Verizon spokesman David Fish said in a blog post that the Times' story "regarding conversations between Google and Verizon is mistaken. It fundamentally misunderstands our purpose. As we said in our earlier FCC filing, our goal is an Internet policy framework that ensures openness and accountability, and incorporates specific FCC authority, while maintaining investment and innovation. To suggest this is a business arrangement between our companies is entirely incorrect."
And Google issued a comment on Twitter earlier Thursday that also denied the Times' story, saying, "We've not had any [conversations with Verizon] about paying for carriage of our traffic. We remain committed to an open internet."
Meanwhile, public interest groups have issued a series of statements in recent days blasting any potential deal, saying the FCC should not bless any agreement that would allow broadband providers to discriminate against Internet content. The latest salvo came from the Center for Democracy and Technology, which has received donations from both Google and Verizon, along with numerous other tech and telecom companies and foundations.
"The goal of Internet neutrality is to prevent gatekeepers and ensure a level playing field. Any negotiation that begins and ends with two companies threatens to undercut that goal," CDT Presidents Leslie Harris said in a statement. "Companies are free to make proposals. But at the end of the day, regulators and policymakers must make Internet policy decisions based on the public interest in ensuring that the Internet remains open innovative and free."
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