FCC's Copps, Clyburn will not block network neutrality order

Federal Communications Commission members Michael Copps and Mignon Clyburn indicated Dec 20 that they will vote to approve Chairman Julius Genachowski's network neutrality order, a proposal they had fought hard to improve.

FCC Commissioner Copps on the proposed network neutrality order: "These past three weeks have been devoted on my part to intensive discussions about ensuring the continued openness of the Internet and putting consumers, not Big Phone and Big Cable, in maximum control of their online experiences. I have been fighting for nearly a decade to make sure the Internet doesn't travel down the same road of special interest consolidation and gate-keeper control that other media and telecommunications industries — radio, television, film and cable — have traveled. What an historic tragedy it would be to let that fate befall the dynamism of the Internet. The item we will vote on tomorrow is not the one I would have crafted. But I believe we have been able to make the current iteration better than what was originally circulated. If vigilantly and vigorously implemented by the Commission — and if upheld by the courts — it could represent an important milestone in the ongoing struggle to safeguard the awesome opportunity-creating power of the open Internet. While I cannot vote wholeheartedly to approve the item, I will not block it by voting against it. I instead plan to concur so that we may move forward. I do thank the Chairman for his engagement, and I owe a special debt of gratitude to Commissioner Mignon Clyburn for her thoughtful and creative work to improve this item."

FCC Commissioner Clyburn on the proposed network neutrality order: "The open Internet is a crucial American marketplace, and I believe that it is appropriate for the FCC to safeguard it by adopting an Order that will establish clear rules to protect consumers' access. The Commission has worked tirelessly to offer a set of guidelines that, while not as strong as they could be, will nonetheless protect consumers as they explore, learn, and innovate online. As such, I plan to vote to approve in part and concur in part the Open Internet Order during the FCC's open meeting tomorrow. I appreciate the hard work of my colleagues, and I am especially grateful for the commitment and dedication of Commissioner Copps, who has worked many years on behalf of consumers to ensure an open Internet. I also want to thank the many stakeholders who have worked diligently on these issues and took the time to call, write, and visit me to convey their concerns. I am also grateful to Chairman Genachowski, his staff, and the many others at the Commission who worked around-the-clock on this proceeding. As a Commissioner whose task is to safeguard consumers and the public interest, I will continue to watch the growth of the Internet and will applaud industry advances and milestones. I will also seek out and facilitate any collaboration between myself, my colleagues, corporate stakeholders, and public interest representatives, as there can be no better path forward than that which is achieved through consensus."

Additional coverage:

FCC Is Set to Regulate Net Access (NYTimes)
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/21/business/media/21fcc.html?ref=todayspaper
'Net Neutrality' Rules Set to Pass (WSJ)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142405274870461090457603203356353143...
FCC set to enact new rules affecting Internet access (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/20/AR201012...
US watchdog set to pass ‘net neutrality’ rule (Financial Times)
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d9b028d8-0c90-11e0-a0a2-00144feabdc0.html
FCC poised to enact new broadband rules (San Jose Merc)
http://www.siliconvalley.com/ci_16906484
FCC set to adopt net neutrality rules (LA Times)
http://articles.latimes.com/2010/dec/20/business/la-fi-fcc-net-neutralit...
FCC Expected To OK 'Net Neutrality' Rules Today (NPR)
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/12/21/132227839/fcc-expected-to...