As if receiving 1.1 million public comments wasn’t enough, the Federal Communications Commission now wants to host a series of roundtable discussions on net neutrality.
A press release confirmed the FCC’s indecision on net neutrality, but also it’s eagerness to find a solution with the assistance of the general public. (RELATED: FCC Net Neutrality Comments Section Shut Down On Last Day of Comments)
“Specifically, the roundtable discussions will focus on public policy considerations and how they should be addressed to protect and promote Internet openness in both the fixed and mobile markets; the technological considerations involved in protecting the open Internet; how the competitive landscape and the economics of providing broadband and online services affects Internet openness; how the Commission can effectively enforce the current and proposed open Internet requirements; and the various legal theories underlying possible Commission actions in this area,” the press release reads.
Net neutrality, which refers to a kind of internet democracy, means all internet service providers treat web data equally. Service providers can’t favor or discriminate against different types of platforms, content or communication. The current debate discusses whether or not service providers should be allowed to provide faster internet at higher prices for giants like Netflix and Google.
For those who wish to attend the FCC roundtables, the schedule (according to the FCC press release) is below.
- Policy Approaches to Ensure an Open Internet — September 16, 2014 (morning)
- Mobile Broadband and the Open Internet — September 16, 2014 (afternoon)
- Effective Enforcement of Open Internet Requirements — September 19, 2014 (morning)
- Technological Aspects of an Open Internet — September 19, 2014 (afternoon)
- Economics of Broadband: Market Successes and Market Failures — October 2, 2014
- Internet Openness and the Law — October 7, 2014
The debates will also be streamed live from the FCC’s website.