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US House of Representatives delay net neutrality debate

by on03 December 2014



Hoping for a Republican in the White House

A key House panel has delayed a hearing on the Federal Communications Commission's efforts to write new Internet traffic rules aimed at assuring "net neutrality." The U.S. House of Representatives Communications and Technology subcommittee had been expected on Dec. 10 to quiz all five FCC commissioners about so-called net neutrality rules that would regulate the how Internet service providers (ISPs) manage web traffic that travels through their networks.

However, the hearing has been postponed and the announcement added that the matter "will be top priority in the new Congress." Cynics would say that the reason that the politicians are waiting is to give telcos a chance to come up with a substantial campaign contribution to help them decide.

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler had hoped to set the new rules before the end of the year but President Barack Obama stunned the telecom community last month by urging the agency to reclassify ISPs to treat them more like public utilities. Republicans, who will take control of the Senate and extend their majority in the House after November's midterm elections, are opposed to the plan because it stops big business screwing over customers. Obama’s plan will probably not do much either.

A new draft of the FCC's net neutrality rules is likely to be issued in the first months of 2015, observers say. An aide to the House committee on Tuesday said the hearing was delayed because of scheduling-related issues but added that the later date would allow for a hearing closer to the FCC's expected decision next year.

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