FCC: Net Neutrality rules could be coming to protect VoIP

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski is putting forth a "notice of proposed rule making" for broadband policy that would implement Net neutrality principles ensuring open and unhampered access to broadband networks. Genachowski said the rules could extend to mobile broadband networks as well, which is possibly a reaction to the controversy over Apple's rejection of Google Voice from the iPhone AppStore.

In his letter, Genachowski specifically mentions carriers slowing or blocking access to VoIP applications as cause for rules regulating open access to broadband access. Not surprisingly, carriers quickly criticized the proposed rules and said they might slow down efforts to roll out new products and compromise security on affected networks. VoIP providers, especially ones that play heavily on mobile devices, have to like the direction in which this is headed.

The two new rules Genachowski proposed would prohibit service providers from discriminating against specific applications and make Internet access providers maintain transparency on their networks. He said in an open letter he plans to launch a formal notice of the rulemaking at the FCC's October meeting. 

For more:
- see the PC World article here [1] 

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