By John Eggerton, Broadcasting & Cable Online, 4-12-17
An association representing edge provider powerhouses met with FCC chairman Ajit Pai Tuesday to argue for preserving the FCC’s Title II-based Open Internet order. That comes as Pai is pondering how to roll back Title II, including by potentially having ISPs sign on to voluntary Open Internet principles that would then be enforceable by the Federal Trade Commission.
The Internet Association – whose members include Amazon, Google, Facebook, eBay, Netflix, Microsoft and Yahoo – met with Pai and top staffers to argue for retaining the rules, according to the association.
“IA continues its vigorous support of the FCC’s Open Internet Order, which is a vital component of the free and open internet,” the companies told Pai, according to an ex parte document filed with the FCC and confirmed by a spokesperson for the group. “The internet industry is uniform in its belief that net neutrality preserves the consumer experience, competition, and innovation online. In other words, existing net neutrality rules should be enforced and kept intact.”
That is unlikely given that the current FCC Republican majority opposes Title II reclassification, and Pai has made it clear he thinks net neutrality can be preserved without classifying ISPs as common carriers under Title II. » Read More