Latest Network neutrality Stories

U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Kevin Martin said Tuesday his agency has sufficient authority to prevent discrimination by Internet service providers."I do not believe any additional regulations are needed at this time," Martin said, during testimony at a hearing before the Senate Commerce Committee. The Commission had previously conducted two hearings on the issue of "network management", following admissions by Comcast Corp that it had delayed file-sharing...

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission plans to scrutinize whether broadband Internet providers were open with customers about how they are managing their networks and make good on the speeds they promise, according to FCC chairman Kevin Martin.Martin said at an agency hearing on broadband services that the commission should look closely at the two factors as it grapples with what constitutes "reasonable" management of broadband networks by providers such as Comcast...

Federal regulators announced on Monday that they will be cracking down on traffic discrimination of Internet Service Providers.The statement came at a hearing regarding alleged traffic discrimination by Comcast Corp. "The commission is ready, willing and able to step in if necessary to correct any practices that are ongoing today," FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said at the hearing, which was held at Harvard Law School's Berkman Center for Internet and Society.Consumer groups and an...

Comcast Corp. will be investigated by the FCC as complaints surfaced that they actively interfere with Internet traffic as its subscribers try to share files online, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said on Tuesday.A board of consumer groups and legal scholars requested in November that the agency stop Comcast from discriminating against certain kinds of data. Two groups also asked the FCC to fine the Internet provider $195,000 for every affected subscriber. Martin remarked that the agency would...

By Jeremy Pelofsky WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Mocked by comedian and host of "The Daily Show" Jon Stewart for calling the Internet a bunch of tubes, U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens said on Thursday he is open to appearing on the popular cable television program for a rebuttal. The comedian has parodied the dean of the Senate Republicans for rejecting calls by some Internet companies for a law to block high-speed Internet providers from charging higher prices to carry...

By Jeremy Pelofsky WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee approved sweeping communications reform legislation on Wednesday that would make it easier for telephone companies like AT&T Inc. to offer subscription television to consumers. But the panel narrowly rejected attempts by some lawmakers to strengthen safeguards on Internet service, which had pitted high-speed Internet, or broadband, providers such as AT&T against Internet companies like Google Inc. In a room...

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday rejected an amendment to bar broadband high-speed Internet providers from discriminating against content or services. The amendment offered by Sens. Olympia Snowe, a Maine Republican, and Byron Dorgan, a North Dakota Democrat, would have prevented broadband providers from giving priority to any individual company's content or services. The panel tied 11-11 in its vote on the amendment, and Chairman Ted Stevens said...

By Jeremy Pelofsky WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens said on Tuesday he does not yet have the necessary votes to get legislation to overhaul communications laws through the full Senate. A primary objective of the legislation is to make it easier for big telephone companies such as AT&T Inc. and Verizon Communications to get a national license for offering subscription television service to compete with cable. Typically they must apply to...

By Jeremy Pelofsky WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens has offered a compromise in the fierce fight over legislation on Internet network neutrality, but stopped short of demands sought by content companies like Google Inc. Google, Microsoft Corp. and other Internet companies have lobbied hard for Congress to bar broadband Internet service providers such as AT&T Inc. and Comcast Corp. from charging them to guarantee access and service quality, often...

By Jeremy Pelofsky WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives handed a victory to AT&T Inc. and Verizon Communications on Thursday by approving a bill that would make it easier for them to offer subscription television service. The House, by a vote of 321 to 101, passed a bill allowing companies like AT&T and Verizon to apply for a nationwide license to offer TV service instead of negotiating with each city for permission, which they argue could take years. Lawmakers also...