FCC extends deadline for receiving public feedback on net neutrality issue

Media regulator Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has extended the deadline for receiving public feedback on the controversial net neutrality issue by five days.

The people can now post their views on the proposed net neutrality rules by September 15, 2014. This is the second occasion when the dates have been extended by the FCC.

The deadline for first round of commenting on the controversial issue was fixed on July 15, but due to the FCC website crashing it was later extended to July 18. Many people turned up at the last minute for posting their opinion leading to crashing of the website. The deadline was then extended to September 10.

The latest extension will allow public with more time to make government know their opinions on the issue involving regulation of Internet traffic.

“This latest extension was done in order to ensure that members of the public have as much time as was initially anticipated to reply to initial comments in these proceedings,” the FCC said in a statement.

The commission working on to formulate new so-called net neutrality rules aiming at regulating the process by which internet service providers (ISPs) manage traffic on their networks.

Under the proposed policies, ISPs are barred from blocking any content and also suggest allowing few ‘commercially reasonable’ deals where content providers could pay ISPs in order encourage the delivery of their traffic.

Over a million public comments have poured in till date on whether all businesses on the Internet should be treated equally over content delivery speed or if businesses should be able to pay to have their data and content prioritized for delivery.

The majority of opinions suggest that people want equality among all, with many saying that the media regulating body should consider all Internet providers as common carrier utilities.

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Richard Carlisle

Richard is a product of the 90s and a serious fan of the Star Wars series. He graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology; therefore, he has a great understanding of the relationship between physical activity and mental health. Although he has a full- time job in a clinic, he enjoys covering news related to health and the United States.