AT&T: No Plans To Create Internet Fast, Slow Lanes

AT&T senior executive vice president-external and legislative affairs Jim Cicconi says that AT&T has no "plans or intent" to adopt the "discriminatory business models" that Title II advocates say could create Internet fast and slow lanes.

Cicconi blogged that no ISPs have expressed a "desire or right" to engage in any of the following practices -- and AT&T has no plans to change its position. He also argues that classifying Title II as Internet access would not only not prevent paid priority, it would allow it and could shield it.

Cicconi says the current discussions about network neutrality don't appear to have a common understanding of paid prioritization, the Federal Communications Commission's 706 authority or Title II regulation. He pointed out that the court's ruling in the Verizon decision -- remanding no-blocking and anti-unreasonable discrimination rules back to the FCC -- allows the FCC to enforce ISP statements of broadband practices.

Cicconi also said there is no paid prioritization as described by Free Press and no one plans to do any of that, he asserted, saying ISPs have broadband practices policies that prohibit them, which the FCC can already enforce.