Looks like Dale started a landslide. I didn't find much worth noting yesterday, and still don't with this analysis, but I have to confess that I'm chuckling over the prospect of these two pretending like they are doing the FCC's job for them. This particular FCC must feel awfully rankled by such brazen attitude on the part of others than itself. Bert -------------------------------- http://www.rethink-wireless.com/2010/08/11/google-verizon-exclude-mobile-neutrality.htm Google and Verizon exclude mobile from neutrality Set out four-point plan, sidelining FCC, but wireless broadband is an exception By CAROLINE GABRIEL Published: 11 August, 2010 In all the past few days' saga about US net neutrality, the cancelled FCC plans and rumored backdoor deals, one outcome is increasingly clear - that there will have to be different rules for the mobile web. This has been considered inevitable by most analysts, because of the constraints on wireless bandwidth, and now it has been made explicit by the companies who have snatched the lead in defining US policy from the regulators, Google and Verizon. The unlikely allies have excluded mobile broadband services from their proposed legal framework for net neutrality. In a policy document they drew up jointly for US lawmakers, they stated: "Wireless broadband is different from the traditional wireline world... In recognition of the still nascent nature of the wireless broadband marketplace, under this proposal we would not now apply most of the wireline principles to wireless." Instead, the proposal outlines four key areas where neutrality regulation would apply - ensuring consumers can access any content from any device; no prioritization of certain classes of internet traffic; network management best practise; and transparency laws that would require ISPs to "disclose accurate and relevant information in plain language". But the companies go on to say that only the fourth of these rules, on transparency, would apply to mobile services "at this time". The statements and filings from the telco and its former antagonist at least calmed speculation that the two firms had done a behind-the-scenes deal to prioritize Google traffic over Verizon's networks, including its forthcoming LTE system. Indeed, the proposals suggest a fine of up to $2m on providers that knowingly discriminate in favour of certain content or partners. The companies, which are largely usurping the role of the FCC, threw the agency a sop in the form of a recommendation that it should have "exclusive authority to oversee broadband internet access service" but added that it would not extend that power to "online applications, content or services". The FCC was not mollified, and said in a statement: "Some will claim this announcement moves the discussion forward; that's one of its many problems." ---------------------------------------------------------------------- You can UNSUBSCRIBE from the OpenDTV list in two ways: - Using the UNSUBSCRIBE command in your user configuration settings at FreeLists.org - By sending a message to: opendtv-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word unsubscribe in the subject line.