With an eye on regulating Internet lines, FCC calls in phone, cable officials

In yet another sign that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) might push forward with its ambition to regulate Internet lines, top FCC aides called in phone and cable officials on Monday to discuss the agency's endgame, according to industry sources.

The morning meeting included the companies that may have the most to lose from net-neutrality regulations, a set of strictures that would rein in how phone and cable companies treat Internet traffic. The rules would be designed to prevent discrimination against certain Web applications and content. 

Monday's meeting was said to include Edward Lazarus, the chief of staff for FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, along with Verizon's Tom Tauke, AT&T's Jim Cicconi, and the National Cable and Telecommunications Association's Kyle McSlarrow.  

The summoning of top stakeholders suggests the FCC may be on the brink of new action on net neutrality. After proposing new rules more than a year ago, the FCC has yet to take action to push the regulations over the finish line.

The FCC’s most serious attempt to reach a resolution on net neutrality involved the same stakeholders who appeared at the commission on Monday. The officials took part in a rigorous set of summertime broadband negotiations. 

The officials were closing in on a compromise deal when the negotiations fell apart. According to Genachowski, an effort by Google and Verizon to author their own proposal helped kill the FCC's momentum.

The same phone and cable officials who appeared at the FCC on Monday took part in net neutrality negotiations earlier this year with House Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman (Calif.). The industry officials seemed willing to sign off on a compromise, but the process fell apart when House Republicans opposed the deal. 

Analysts last week speculated that the FCC is mulling a December effort to create net-neutrality rules. Agency spokesperson Jen Howard has neither confirmed nor denied the reports.

Still, Monday's meeting suggests the FCC is at least mulling action after a year of delay.Observers have suggested that a potential December net-neutrality proposal from the FCC might resemble the framework Waxman crafted in September.

The prospect of the FCC moving ahead to regulate Internet lines prompted strong pushback from House Republicans and a few notes of support from Democrats last week.