FCC's November agenda has no mention of net neutrality

As expected, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Thursday released a tentative agenda for its Nov. 30 open meeting that doesn't include any mention of net neutrality or reclassifying broadband Internet services.

The FCC is under increased pressure from net-neutrality activists to take action, since Tuesday's Republican takeover of the House makes any legislative implementation of net neutrality unlikely. FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski has proposed reclassifying broadband as a telecom service and has the votes to move forward, but has sought more input from industry and advocacy groups rather than put the matter before the commission.

Thursday was the final day for stakeholders to comment on the FCC's Open Internet Initiative, which seeks input on what a potential regulatory framework for the Internet would look like. Observers had said the FCC was unlikely to act until it has reviewed all of the various responses, many of which directly address the open Internet proposal put forth this summer by Google and Verizon.

The FCC's agenda includes a discussion of how to use UHF and VHF television spectrum, along with a vote on proposed rules to allow for greater experimentation in the wireless space. The full agenda is after the jump.

• TV Spectrum Innovation NPRM: A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking comment on rules to facilitate the most efficient use of the UHF and VHF TV bands. These proposals, an important step toward the agency’s spectrum goals as outlined in the National Broadband Plan, would remove a host of obstacles to mobile broadband use within spectrum currently reserved for use by TV broadcasters, including through innovations such as channel sharing and generating increased value within the VHF band.

• Experimental Licensing NPRM: A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking comment on proposed rules to facilitate greater experimentation in the wireless space. The NPRM suggests making the Commission’s experimental licensing rules more flexible, including by easing testing restrictions on universities, research organizations, and other institutions that are developing new wireless services and devices. The goal is that the resulting testbeds would encourage innovation and help speed the time to market for new technologies.

• Opportunistic Use NOI: A Notice of Inquiry seeking comment on ways to accelerate “opportunistic use” of underdeveloped spectrum in both licensed and unlicensed bands, including how technological innovations can effectively foster secondary markets.