FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski hasn't decided whether broadband services should be regulated as a telecom service or be classified as information services, which comes with fewer regulations.
Genachowski last week told a U.S. Senate hearing that FCC lawyers were studying the options. "I haven't made a decision yet," he said. Meanwhile, lawmakers and lobbyists are urging Genachowski to make up his mind.
The issue once again pits service providers like AT&T against Internet companies like Google and Skype. Service providers support classifying broadband services as information services while Internet companies want to see broadband classified as telecommunications services, which comes with more oversight from the FCC.
The issue is under the spotlight now that a federal appeals court ruled against the FCC when it comes to regulating net neutrality.
For more:
- see this InformationWeek article
Related articles:
FCC to re-evaluate parts of broadband plan following court ruling
FCC pushing ahead with broadband plan despite ruling
FCC grapples with net neutrality authority