CTIA urges Network Neutrality rules be dropped for wireless networks

Wireless trade group CTIA urged the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) not to push for Network Neutrality regulations for wireless networks affected by the broadband stimulus beyond rules the FCC already enforces. The statement from the wireless industry's chief lobbying group came amid a torrent of comments sent to the Department of Commerce and the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) of the Department of Agriculture on Monday, the deadline for comments on how broadband grants should be structured. When Congress passed the $787 billion economic stimulus in February, it mandated that the NTIA and the FCC put in place certain net neutrality regulations. CTIA is arguing that those regulations should not apply to wireless networks. The net neutrality rules "should be applied to broadband stimulus grantees within the context of its existing parameters, and not more broadly," CTIA said. "Wireless networks are inherently different than the networks for which the [net neutrality] policy statement was developed. The underlying network infrastructure, including spectrum, as well as the integration of the customer equipment, make wireless significantly different than other broadband networks."