The issue of net neutrality takes a sharp turn

Proponents of net neutrality in the Internet content industry and among public interest NGOs have long been sparring with opponents of the principle in the telecom industry, and both have pushed hard to influence slow-moving political processes in the EU and the US. In August 2010, however, the status quo was roiled by striking new developments in the US, primarily by a joint proposal by Google and telecom giant Verizon. This review for the CMCS summarizes the Google/Verizon plan, the substance of the various responses and critiques of the proposal, and the FCC response. The 21-page review traces the backstory of developments around net neutrality in the US that led to this point, and includes a primer on what net neutrality is. It also includes a list of relevant links and information on experts, advocates and reporters cited in the review.