WASHINGTON, Dec 21 (Reuters) – U.S. communications
regulators adopted Internet traffic rules on Tuesday that
prevent providers from blocking lawful content but still let
them ration access to their networks.

The Federal Communications Commission approved the “Open
Internet” order after FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski’s plan
got the support of fellow Democrats Michael Copps and Mignon
Clyburn.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. communications regulators were poised to adopt Internet traffic rules on Tuesday that would allow providers to ration access to their networks.

Federal Communications Commission members Michael Copps and Mignon Clyburn issued statements on Monday saying they would support the proposal laid out by FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski early this month despite some misgivings.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Federal Communications Commission is poised to adopt Internet traffic rules on Tuesday that would ban the blocking of lawful content, but allow high-speed Internet providers to manage their networks, senior agency officials said.

Commissioners Michael Copps and Mignon Clyburn have come to an agreement to support the proposal laid out by FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski early this month despite their concern about aspects of the plan, senior FCC officials said on Monday.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A controversial proposal for Internet traffic rules that would allow providers to ration access to their networks is scheduled to come before communications regulators for a vote on Tuesday.

The rules would ban high-speed Internet providers like Comcast Corp and Verizon Communications from blocking lawful traffic, but are expected to acknowledge their need to manage network congestion and possibly charge consumers based on Internet usage.

WASHINGTON, Dec 17 (Reuters) – Comcast Corp (CMCSA.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) will
offer new programming targeted at African and Asian Americans
if it is allowed to buy a majority stake in General Electric
Co’s (GE.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) NBC Universal, the company announced this week in
agreements with civil rights groups.

The decision to boost diversity efforts comes as the
company awaits approval from the U.S. Justice Department and
Federal Communications Commission to complete a proposed merger
that would create a combined broadcast, cable, movie studio and
theme parks business.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Contentious Internet traffic rules facing a vote next week are likely to be adopted without radically veering from a proposal unveiled earlier in the month, telecommunications policy analysts said on Wednesday.

The Federal Communications Commission will vote on December 21 on whether to adopt regulations that ban the blocking of lawful traffic but allow Internet service providers to ration Web traffic on their networks.

WASHINGTON, Dec 15 (Reuters) – Contentious Internet traffic rules
facing a vote next week are likely to be adopted without radically
veering from a proposal unveiled earlier in the month, analysts at
Stifel Nicolaus said on Wednesday.

The Federal Communications Commission will vote on Dec. 21 to
adopt regulations that ban the blocking of lawful traffic but allow
Internet service providers to ration web traffic on their networks.

WASHINGTON, Dec 14 (Reuters) – Pushing for U.S. regulatory
and congressional action to free up airwaves to handle the
burgeoning use of wireless devices will be the top policy
initiative of the consumer electronics industry in 2011, the
head of a trade group said on Tuesday.

Gary Shapiro, president and chief executive of the Consumer
Electronics Association, told reporters he would like to see
next year’s Congress take quick action on spectrum reform.

WASHINGTON, Dec 10 (Reuters) – The open Internet principles
laid out by the top U.S. telecommunications regulator last week
fall short of “real” net neutrality, more than 80 groups said
in a letter on Friday.

Public interest groups, businesses and civil rights groups
signed the letter to the Federal Communications Commission,
saying net neutrality rules should ban paid prioritization of
online content.

WASHINGTON, Dec 9 (Reuters) – A plan to give wireless
networks more flexibility than their landline counterparts in
proposed Internet rules is being questioned by Federal
Communications Commission member Mignon Clyburn.

In remarks prepared for a conference on Thursday, Clyburn
said it was essential that wireless networks “grow in an open
way just as our wired ones have.”