Well everyone, the net neutrality debate isn’t over yet. There is another chapter to this story now that the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) has announced that it will host six “Open Internet Round Table” discussions on several topics that relate to net neutrality. These round table discussions will be live-streamed.
The FCC’s intention is to help further develop its understanding of the issues associated with net neutrality. The sessions, which span from mid September to the beginning of October, will start with the broad ideas and then focus in on the more technical aspects of the issue. These discussions will be comprised of both experts and the general public.
In a statement released by the FCC:
“The Open Internet Roundtable Discussions will provide an opportunity for the Commission staff and interested parties to further examine the actions the Commission should take for its goal of determining the best approach to protecting and promoting Internet openness […] Specifically, the roundtable discussions will focus on public policy considerations and how they should be addressed to protect and promote Internet openness in both the fixed and mobile markets; the technological considerations involved in protecting the open Internet; how the competitive landscape and the economics of providing broadband and online services affects Internet openness; how the Commission can effectively enforce the current and proposed open Internet requirements; and the various legal theories underlying possible Commission actions in this area.”
Here is the schedule of discussions:
September 16(AM): Policy Approaches to Ensure an Open Internet
September 16 (PM): Mobile Broadband and the Open Internet
September 19 (AM): Effective Enforcement of Open Internet Requirements
September 19 (PM): Technological Aspects of an Open Internet
October 2: Economics of Broadband: Market Successes and Market Failures
October 7: Internet Openness and the Law
I’d like to add here also that with the history of this issue so far –I don’t think that it’s far-fetched to assume that more dates for discussions might be added to this calendar considering what a hot topic this has turned out to be.
I think that the point here is to really hear the arguments from both sides in action. Hopefully, this will add more fuel to the fire and bring even more attention to the issue. I think that the louder the noise is that the public makes the harder it will be for detrimental laws to pass.
