The two companies were on opposite sides of the net neutrality debate. So they initiated talks aimed at coming up with a compromise where some progress could be achieved in the face of FCC and congressional inaction. For Google, it's a lesson in growing up.
Google's Silicon Valley HQ became a raucous hotspot today as demonstrators armed with protest signs and petitions took to the streets to defend their ideal of an open and egalitarian Internet -- and oppose Verizon's proposal for tiered service.
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.
Public interest groups kept up their assault on the FCC's closed-door broadband policy meetings after the agency decided to bypass standard disclosure rules, effectively shutting out the public. One group took out a full page ad in The Washington Post blasting the meetings.
The FCC's closed-door meetings with industry giants over Internet regulation continued Tuesday as the agency's chief of staff defended a process that has shut out the public. Public interest groups demanded the agency "reverse the secrecy."
FCC officials held private meetings Monday with cable and telecom lobbyists who oppose the "open" Internet rules proposed by agency Chairman Julius Genachowski. Critics are now accusing the FCC of trying to broker a backroom deal.
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.
In order to enforce net neutrality rules, the FCC is reclassifying Internet service providers into the same regulatory "box" as phone companies. The move gives the FCC the authority to drastically improve broadband competition -- but the FCC has decided it won't use that power.
The Federal Communications Commission's plan to craft a new approach to regulating broadband service has the battle over "network neutrality" -- the idea that Internet providers should treat content equally -- burning again. So far, neither side appears to be able to claim victory.
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski on Thursday will announce a regulatory "third way" to preserve net neutrality, promising "a path forward for the Commission to address serious legal issues" raised by a recent court ruling that threw the agency's broadband regulatory authority into doubt, according to a senior FCC official.
