The GOP opposes net neutrality rules preventing major ISPs from discriminating against content providers and customers. Image: CC Camilo Sanchez/Wikimedia Commons

House Republicans voted to block new Federal Communications Commission net neutrality rules, calling them an example of an overreaching federal government. The FCC seeks to implement rules preventing Internet service providers from discriminating against content providers and customers via different fees and connection speeds. The House passed an amendment to a spending bill that would cut off money the FCC would spend to enforce net neutrality rules.

Net neutrality and the federal budget

In an attempt to keep the FCC from implementing new net neutrality rules, the Republican-controlled House approved an amendment to a budget bill needed to fund the federal government to the end of the 2011 fiscal year in June. The amendment to defund FCC net neutrality is one of the few means Republicans have to satisfy their constituents at companies like Comcast, AT&T and Verizon who control most U.S. Internet access. Political analysts doubt whether the net neutrality amendment, as well as other Republican measures to defund programs they don’t like, will survive the legislative process. But if the amendment becomes part of the budget bill needed to fund the government, it will be difficult for President Obama to veto.

Net neutrality becomes a political football

The FCC’s new net neutrality rules have strong support from Senate Democrats and President Obama. The rules passed the Democratic House in December, but Senate Republicans stalled the measure in anticipation of the GOP gaining control of the House in the new year. Senate Democrats, who still hold the majority, are adamant that they won’t address the Republican net neutrality defunding amendment. The current government funding bill expires at midnight on March 4. Congress must pass a new spending bill by then, or the federal government will be forced to shut down.

Net neutrality basics

New net neutrality rules are being considered because a few major companies control Internet access for most Americans. Some people suspect these companies of colluding with each other to keep rates high and the quality of service low. The FCC hopes to encourage more competition in the Internet service provider market by preventing major Internet service providers from charging websites for faster access and throttling Internet connections for content providers and customers who don’t pay extra.

Sources

Wall Street Journal

Politico

Daily Tech

A deal between Google and Verizon is an end-run around talks among Internet stakeholders that signals an end to the era of net neutrality. Geek and Poke illustration.

Net neutrality, the sacred rule of the Internet, says that no form of content is favored over any other. Big corporations with the power to control content want the age of net neutrality to come to an end. Google and Verizon, the 800-pound gorillas of the Internet, are in collusion to provide content to Internet users at higher speeds for a higher price. Net neutrality crusaders want the Federal Communications Commission to nix the Google/Verizon axis. But the FCC’s hands were tied in court last April by the Comcast decision saying the FCC has no authority to enforce net neutrality.

Net neutrality talks seek compromise

Net neutrality talks have been taking place with Internet stakeholders and FCC officials. Internet stakeholders include Google, Verizon, AT&T, Skype, cable companies and the Open Internet Coalition. The New York Times reports the discussions involve the FCC’s legal authority to regulate Internet service. Cable and telephone companies want to place a premium on higher bandwidth. Wireless companies want no regulation whatsoever on wireless broadband. Content providers want no favoritism on the Internet. The FCC wants a level playing field, but because of the FCC Comcast decision, it cannot impose one as long as its authority is in legal doubt.

Google and Verizon going rogue

As net neutrality talks with Internet stakeholders and the FCC dragged on, Google and Verizon eloped to make a deal. Bloomberg reports that Google and Verizon are former net neutrality adversaries. Verizon wants free reign to charge more for higher speeds to make as much money as it can get away with. Google has wanted regulations to prevent companies like Verizon from offering content from partners that pay for higher speed. Now, Google may have figured that the era of net neutrality is already over. Making a deal with Verizon could give Google the advantage when the corporate feeding frenzy begins.

Stage set for corporate takeover

A Google-Verizon deal alarms consumer advocates, who say it starts a trend that gives a few mega-corporations control over what has been a free and open web where consumers decide which companies succeed. Save the Internet paints a nightmare scenario where Google products get priority based on commercial deals. Chrome would work better than other browsers. Google Buzz would work better than Twitter. YouTube would get more bandwidth than competing video sites. Google’s Blogger would get special treatment over WordPress. Google’s GChat would work better than Sykpe … and the list goes on.

Google/Verizon winners and losers

The Google/Verizon deal may lead to an Internet where there are winners and losers among media giants, telecom firms and Internet users, according to the Wall Street Journal. It is inevitable that content will be prioritized on the Internet into different streams. There will be higher charges for faster, prioritized content. The Internet service providers will wrest control of the web from the FCC. Big media corporations will squeeze out the competition that keeps them honest. Surfing the Internet will become like trying to find something that isn’t total garbage to watch on cable television.

The only thing standing in the way is the FCC and the courts.