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Net neutrality showdown

special coverage Network operators want to charge Net content providers for enhanced services, but critics say regulations are needed to prevent abuse.

6 min read

Net neutrality showdown

Network operators want to charge Internet content providers for enhanced IP services, while Net neutrality proponents say regulations are needed to prevent abuse by the Net's gatekeepers.

Net neutrality proposal revived in Senate

Politicians reintroduce a divisive bill aimed at barring network operators from prioritizing Net content.
January 9, 2007

Net neutrality push expected to resume in Congress

Agreement reached in AT&T-BellSouth merger could set the stage for renewed action on Capitol Hill.
January 2, 2007

Year in Review: Blurred lines in broadband

AT&T kept up its merger efforts as phone companies and cable operators kept to their collision course.
January 1, 2007

FCC approves AT&T-BellSouth merger

After months of partisan deadlock, the Federal Communications Commission approves the merger valued at roughly $86 billion.
December 29, 2006

Congress and tech: Little to show

Lawmakers made a lot of noise over MySpace, China and Net neutrality, but tech-related laws were hard to come by.
December 11, 2006

What Democrats' win means for tech

This week's election gives the Democrats control of at least one chamber of Congress. What does it mean for Net neutrality and digital copyright?
November 9, 2006

FTC chief warns against 'unnecessary' Net rules

Deborah Platt Majoras says consumer voices, market forces, existing laws are often good enough to remedy problems.
November 6, 2006

Google CEO: Techies must educate governments

Tensions between privacy and ready access to data lace visions for 2016 tech by Eric Schmidt and Microsoft VP Rick Rashid.
October 17, 2006

Tech manufacturers rally against Net neutrality

Makers of networking hardware, applications urge Congress to hold off on regulations they say could disrupt the way the Internet works.
September 19, 2006

Google defends Net neutrality regulations

During in-person debate, telecom executives claim Google is hypocritical on Net neutrality and worried about search competition.
August 22, 2006

FTC chief critiques Net neutrality

Deborah Platt Majoras takes aim at Senate proposal to force broadband providers to treat all content the same.
August 21, 2006

Technologists square off on Net neutrality

Why do Internet pioneers Vint Cerf and Dave Farber disagree over whether the feds should mandate Net neutrality?
Chart: Congress' broadband battles.
July 17, 2006

An Internet for the few or the many?

newsmaker Commissioner Michael Copps says the FCC will soon grapple with a clutch of issues that could forever impact the Internet--for good or for bad.
June 27, 2006

Confusion over Net neutrality

podcast Misinformation and misunderstanding surround the debate over Net neutrality. CNET News.com's Declan McCullagh joins CNET Editor Tom Merritt to sort through the thornier issues.
June 27, 2006

New Net neutrality plan may ruffle feathers

newsmaker Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft want to regulate broadband providers, but they won't like those rules being applied to them.
June 8, 2006

eBay tries e-mail in Net neutrality fight

CEO Meg Whitman tries a personal approach: Contacting more than a million members and asking them to contact their politicians.
June 2, 2006

Berners-Lee calls for Net neutrality

A distinction must be preserved between the market for access and the market for content, says the Web pioneer.
May 23, 2006

Musician Moby raises voice for Net neutrality

In rare Capitol Hill appearance, artist insists that politicians pass new regulations enforcing open Internet architecture.
May 18, 2006

Hardware firms oppose Net neutrality laws

In split with other tech firms, Cisco, 3M, Qualcomm and others ask Congress not to enact laws regarding the concept.
May 17, 2006

Why cable companies, Google are eyeing wireless spectrum

An FCC wireless spectrum auction is approaching, and several unlikely candidates may want in on the bidding.
May 11, 2006

Democratic senator wants Net neutrality regulations

In repeat partisan split in House, a Democratic senator takes issue with Republican broadband proposal.
May 9, 2006

Smaller cable firms take aim at Net neutrality fans

They say the Googles of the world shouldn't expect a free ride and the government should stay out of the picture.
May 8, 2006

New group aims to 'save the Internet'

Coalition of media, consumer and Internet groups says FCC needs power to police Internet to ensure broadband providers follow "Net neutrality" rules.
April 24, 2006

Verizon says Net neutrality is overhyped

CTO Mark Wegleitner says all his company wants to do is to be able to manage its network.
March 31, 2006

Broadband giants say Net neutrality fears misguided

Verizon, AT&T offer special pipes to businesses to link offices. The new idea extends that concept to content delivery, they say.
Photo: Ciccone, Tauke talk
March 24, 2006

AT&T chief, FCC chair clarify on Net neutrality

AT&T CEO says he has no plans to degrade service, FCC chairman says companies should be allowed to recoup costs.
March 21, 2006

Qwest CEO supports tiered Internet

Richard Notebaert says it's a good idea to offer different levels of service for companies like Google and Amazon.
March 15, 2006

Debate heats up over level playing field

Companies split over whether Congress should prevent phone carriers from charging Internet providers for using their networks.
March 15, 2006

Senator: Net neutrality may not happen

Commerce Chairman Ted Stevens seems lukewarm to mandatory Net neutrality, and analysts say it's not a good idea.
March 14, 2006

Net video explosion triggers traffic jam worries

From "Lost" episodes to movie trailer mashups, the volume of video online is skyrocketing, putting new stress on ISP networks.
February 23, 2006

Without 'Net neutrality,' will consumers pay twice?

If some telecommunications carriers get their way, consumers could end up handing over more for the broadband content and services they use.
February 7, 2006

Playing favorites on the Net?

A proposal in Congress could tip the scales toward some services and create a two-tiered Internet.
December 21, 2005

Net neutrality showdown

Network operators want to charge Internet content providers for enhanced IP services, while Net neutrality proponents say regulations are needed to prevent abuse by the Net's gatekeepers.

Net neutrality proposal revived in Senate

Politicians reintroduce a divisive bill aimed at barring network operators from prioritizing Net content.
January 9, 2007

Net neutrality push expected to resume in Congress

Agreement reached in AT&T-BellSouth merger could set the stage for renewed action on Capitol Hill.
January 2, 2007

Year in Review: Blurred lines in broadband

AT&T kept up its merger efforts as phone companies and cable operators kept to their collision course.
January 1, 2007

FCC approves AT&T-BellSouth merger

After months of partisan deadlock, the Federal Communications Commission approves the merger valued at roughly $86 billion.
December 29, 2006

Congress and tech: Little to show

Lawmakers made a lot of noise over MySpace, China and Net neutrality, but tech-related laws were hard to come by.
December 11, 2006

What Democrats' win means for tech

This week's election gives the Democrats control of at least one chamber of Congress. What does it mean for Net neutrality and digital copyright?
November 9, 2006

FTC chief warns against 'unnecessary' Net rules

Deborah Platt Majoras says consumer voices, market forces, existing laws are often good enough to remedy problems.
November 6, 2006

Google CEO: Techies must educate governments

Tensions between privacy and ready access to data lace visions for 2016 tech by Eric Schmidt and Microsoft VP Rick Rashid.
October 17, 2006

Tech manufacturers rally against Net neutrality

Makers of networking hardware, applications urge Congress to hold off on regulations they say could disrupt the way the Internet works.
September 19, 2006

Google defends Net neutrality regulations

During in-person debate, telecom executives claim Google is hypocritical on Net neutrality and worried about search competition.
August 22, 2006

FTC chief critiques Net neutrality

Deborah Platt Majoras takes aim at Senate proposal to force broadband providers to treat all content the same.
August 21, 2006

Technologists square off on Net neutrality

Why do Internet pioneers Vint Cerf and Dave Farber disagree over whether the feds should mandate Net neutrality?
Chart: Congress' broadband battles.
July 17, 2006

An Internet for the few or the many?

newsmaker Commissioner Michael Copps says the FCC will soon grapple with a clutch of issues that could forever impact the Internet--for good or for bad.
June 27, 2006

Confusion over Net neutrality

podcast Misinformation and misunderstanding surround the debate over Net neutrality. CNET News.com's Declan McCullagh joins CNET Editor Tom Merritt to sort through the thornier issues.
June 27, 2006

New Net neutrality plan may ruffle feathers

newsmaker Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft want to regulate broadband providers, but they won't like those rules being applied to them.
June 8, 2006

eBay tries e-mail in Net neutrality fight

CEO Meg Whitman tries a personal approach: Contacting more than a million members and asking them to contact their politicians.
June 2, 2006

Berners-Lee calls for Net neutrality

A distinction must be preserved between the market for access and the market for content, says the Web pioneer.
May 23, 2006

Musician Moby raises voice for Net neutrality

In rare Capitol Hill appearance, artist insists that politicians pass new regulations enforcing open Internet architecture.
May 18, 2006

Hardware firms oppose Net neutrality laws

In split with other tech firms, Cisco, 3M, Qualcomm and others ask Congress not to enact laws regarding the concept.
May 17, 2006

Why cable companies, Google are eyeing wireless spectrum

An FCC wireless spectrum auction is approaching, and several unlikely candidates may want in on the bidding.
May 11, 2006

Democratic senator wants Net neutrality regulations

In repeat partisan split in House, a Democratic senator takes issue with Republican broadband proposal.
May 9, 2006

Smaller cable firms take aim at Net neutrality fans

They say the Googles of the world shouldn't expect a free ride and the government should stay out of the picture.
May 8, 2006

New group aims to 'save the Internet'

Coalition of media, consumer and Internet groups says FCC needs power to police Internet to ensure broadband providers follow "Net neutrality" rules.
April 24, 2006

Verizon says Net neutrality is overhyped

CTO Mark Wegleitner says all his company wants to do is to be able to manage its network.
March 31, 2006

Broadband giants say Net neutrality fears misguided

Verizon, AT&T offer special pipes to businesses to link offices. The new idea extends that concept to content delivery, they say.
Photo: Ciccone, Tauke talk
March 24, 2006

AT&T chief, FCC chair clarify on Net neutrality

AT&T CEO says he has no plans to degrade service, FCC chairman says companies should be allowed to recoup costs.
March 21, 2006

Qwest CEO supports tiered Internet

Richard Notebaert says it's a good idea to offer different levels of service for companies like Google and Amazon.
March 15, 2006

Debate heats up over level playing field

Companies split over whether Congress should prevent phone carriers from charging Internet providers for using their networks.
March 15, 2006

Senator: Net neutrality may not happen

Commerce Chairman Ted Stevens seems lukewarm to mandatory Net neutrality, and analysts say it's not a good idea.
March 14, 2006

Net video explosion triggers traffic jam worries

From "Lost" episodes to movie trailer mashups, the volume of video online is skyrocketing, putting new stress on ISP networks.
February 23, 2006

Without 'Net neutrality,' will consumers pay twice?

If some telecommunications carriers get their way, consumers could end up handing over more for the broadband content and services they use.
February 7, 2006

Playing favorites on the Net?

A proposal in Congress could tip the scales toward some services and create a two-tiered Internet.
December 21, 2005