Despite the carrier's admission of overbilling, the FCC says it plans to investigate why it took Verizon two years to notify customers of the problem, reimburse them and take corrective action. Additional penalties are a possibility.
Lobbyists from some of the largest U.S. technology companies are meeting behind closed doors in Washington with telecom giants to discuss net neutrality, following the failed FCC talks and Google's bilateral deal with Verizon. No surprise, public interest groups weren't invited.
Despite the search giant's defense of its joint plan with Verizon on tiered Internet service, the proposal has stirred up a storm of criticism, with protesters swarming the search giant's Silicon Valley campus Friday to voice their displeasure.
Google and Verizon drew lots of criticism last week with a Web-traffic pact rumored to favor higher-paying providers. Now, the companies have unveiled a proposal that pays homage to the concept of net neutrality, at least in the short term.
Federal Communications Commission officials reportedly slammed the door Thursday on further private talks with Google and Verizon to develop a loosely regulated level playing field for how Internet content gets delivered by telecom and cable operators.
Google and Verizon denied reports of a proposed tiered-services deal that would allow websites to pay broadband providers for the privilege of getting content in front of users more quickly. The alleged deal had proponents of net neutrality up in arms Thursday.
Google and Verizon are in talks to allow the big Internet service provider to speed up the delivery of online content to Web users if the content's creators pay for this, subverting the tenet of Net neutrality.
The FCC narrowly voted for a public comment period on Net neutrality and its overhaul of broadband regulations. One the ideas under consideration is a reclassification of broadband as a telecoms service so broadband pipes are open to Internet companies wanting to use them.
Who can't relate to opening a monthly cell phone bill and seeing a balance substantially greater than expected? Data, roaming and other charges can quickly lead to "bill shock" and one federal agency is trying to help dial down the surprise.
