FCC sets date for net neutrality showdown

The FCC will vote on proposed net neutrality regulations on 22 October

The FCC has set an official date for a vote on proposed net neutrality regulations.

The commission has announced a 22 October meeting to debate and possibly approve the plan. If instituted, the new regulations would be the first to guarantee net neutrality across the US.

Earlier this week FCC chairman Julius Genachowski suggested that the commission would seek to impose rules that would prevent telcos from blocking or limiting network traffic based on the application in use.

Shortly after Genachowski’s comments hit the wires, opposition to the plan began to surface as telcos voiced concern over the plan. Service providers have long argued that managing network traffic is an important way to prevent high-bandwidth applications such as P2P sharing from slowing traffic for all users.

Opposition to the plan also mounted in the form of Republican senators who worried that the net neutrality rules would amount to federal control over the telecommunications industry.

Several senators briefly considered legislation limiting the FCC’s ability to regulate internet traffic, but have since reportedly backed off the plan in favour of direct talks with Genachowski.

The debate is the latest in what has become a global issue regarding net neutrality. The EU has also been wrestling with the idea of net neutrality as service providers increasingly look to monitor and manage various types of network traffic.