The FCC has delayed its December open meeting amid speculation that FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski may put a key net neutrality item up for vote at the meeting.
The FCC’s December open meeting has been delayed six days to Dec. 21 from Dec. 15, the agency announced in an e-mail. No reason was given for the change and the agency could not be reached for comment on the delay.
The change of date comes just five days after rumors emerged that Genachowski was planning a December vote on the FCC’s authority over wireless operator’s data roaming agreements.
The open meeting provides Genachowski with an opportunity to rebuild momentum for net neutrality, which has slowed amid the GOP’s win in the House and heavy lobbying from Internet service providers and net neutrality advocates. The agency does not plan to take up any issues related to net neutrality at its November open meeting, scheduled for Nov. 30.
A commission vote on its authority over wireless broadband Internet services could have direct implications for the FCC’s net neutrality efforts, which have been hampered by a court ruling which determined it lacked jurisdiction over broadband Internet services.
On Tuesday, the FCC will vote on using television broadcast spectrum in the UHF and VHF bands available for mobile broadband; ways to spur development of underused spectrum in licensed and unlicensed bands; and ways to make its experimental licensing rules more flexible.
Filed Under: Industry regulations