Google, Verizon Announce Net Neutrality Plans

The 9 August announcement also repeated a call for transparency in proceedings of the FCC and other parties involved—something that has been notably lacking in the FCC’s closed-door negotiations with a variety of Internet players.

The joint statement and the statements by Schmidt and Seidenberg also reiterated their belief that wireless communications should be included in the proposed net neutrality rules, although Seidenberg said he felt that the wireless arena was slightly different from the wire-line world, with different technology, a different state of competition and different interactive capabilities, and said he was concerned that too many rules would stifle competition.

Both companies shared a vision of what they referred to as “the formulation of an enlightened, sustainable Internet policy for the United States,” in a January 2010 filing with the FCC. In that filing, the companies stressed the necessity of preserving openness, encouraging investment, providing users with control and information, and keeping applications, content and services free from regulation. The filing also suggested an important role for TAGs (technical advisory groups) for developing best practices, dispute resolution and coordination with standards-setting bodies.

Equal access to content

In the 9 August joint policy proposal, which was published simultaneously with the press conference, Google and Verizon pointed out that both companies have long been proponents of the FCC’s current wire-line broadband openness policies, and stated that they believe it’s critical to ensure that consumers have access to all legal content.

In addition, the joint statement called for new, enforceable prohibitions against discriminatory practices that would harm consumers or provide harm to competition. The statement said broadband providers should not be able to favour particular Internet traffic over other traffic.

The two companies also called for consumers to be fully informed about their Internet experiences, and said providers should give consumers clear, understandable information about the services they offer and their capabilities.

The proposal also asks for new enforcement provisions for the FCC following the Comcast decision. Enforcement would be handled on a case-by-case basis, and would include fines of up to $2 million dollars. The proposal does not specify what sort of legal or legislative framework would give this power to the FCC.

Other items in the proposal call for support for innovation, a special process in which the Government Accountability Office would produce updates on wireless technology to Congress annually, and support for the reform of the federal Universal Service Fund to better support broadband deployment to rural areas.

The goal of the policy proposal, according to Schmidt, is to ensure that the Internet remains open and available for innovation. Rejecting suggestions that Google is planning a suite of premium services for extra pay, he said, “Google is dependent on the open Internet.” Schmidt added that Google could never have achieved the place it now occupies without it, and he said he thinks it’s critical for the next Google or the next YouTube to have as good a chance of success as his company has had.