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 The Internet Association, which represents three dozen web companies
such as Google Inc, Netflix Inc and Amazon.com Inc, made their case
in a filing with the Federal Communications Commission, which plans
to establish new so-called "net neutrality" rules.
The rules guide how Internet service providers (ISPs) manage traffic
on their networks, aiming to ensure they do not unfairly limit
consumers' access to website and applications.
In January, a court ruling struck down the FCC's previous version of
such rules. The agency is now collecting public comments on a
proposal that would ban ISPs from blocking users' access to websites
or applications but allow some "commercially reasonable" deals
between content providers and ISPs to prioritize delivery of some
traffic.
In its comments on Monday, the Internet Association criticized the
possibility of ISPs charging content providers "for enhanced or
prioritized access" and called for equal Internet traffic rules for
both wired and wireless networks.
"The Internet is threatened by broadband Internet access providers
who would turn the open, best-efforts Internet into a
pay-for-priority platform more closely resembling cable television
than today's Internet," the group wrote.
The Internet Association argued that allowing technical "reasonable
network management" should give ISPs enough flexibility to deal with
congested networks, while paid prioritization on non-congested
networks is likely to mean faster download speeds for some at the
expense of others.
Dozens of tech companies in June called on the FCC Chairman Tom
Wheeler to adopt rules that would protect the openness of Internet,
but Monday's comments represent a more detailed industry position.
The Internet Association in the next few weeks plans to roll out a
campaign about the FCC's proposal and net neutrality, distributing
infographics and videos and inviting Internet users to suggest
amendments to the FCC's proposed rules through an interactive
document viewer on its website, the association's President Michael
Beckerman told Reuters.
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In particular, the Internet Association's push may spotlight
anti-blocking and anti-discrimination rules that in the past applied
differently to fixed and wireless Internet traffic.
"We're going to be getting pretty vocal about this issue," Beckerman
said. "It doesn't make sense anymore to differentiate the way net
neutrality applies to mobile and wireline."
A senior FCC official last month told Reuters the issue will have
"big resonance" at the FCC. Wireless carriers argue that stricter
rules may hurt how they manage their dynamic shared networks,
leading to slower Internet speeds for everyone.
Wheeler on Friday reiterated his plan to reject paid prioritization
deals that are struck in bad faith: "If it hurts competition, if it
hurts consumers, if it hurts innovation, I'm against it and we're
not going to tolerate it."
(Reporting by Alina Selyukh in Toronto; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
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