Google and Verizon, traditionally two of the loudest voices on either side of the Net Neutrality debate, have put aside their differences to develop a common neutrality framework.
The companies could announce a tentative compromise on managing network traffic as early as today, WSJ.com reports, citing sources close to the discussions.
Any agreement would likely allow CSP’s to offer priority traffic at higher rates, but would not be applied to wireless networks, WSJ said.
The framework agreement could also form the basis of legislation covering neutrality principles issued by the US FCC.
In an interview with GigaOm, Google CEO Eric Schmidt said the negotiations with Verizon had been going on for some time.
Verizon today revealed the goal of the talks was to work out a Web policy framework, refuting reports in the New York Times that the pair were working on a business deal.
However, news of the potential deal between Verizon and Google prompted the FCC to abandon net neutrality talks with other service providers, and caution that any agreement that limits the openness of Web content would be “unacceptable,” Reuters reported.