Mozilla has proposed a "new path" to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) - one that officials have said might improve net neutrality rules.
In a move for more clear rules on regulating broadband services, Mozilla filed a petition to the commission, requesting a reclassification of portions of broadband networks as regulated, common-carrier services. The organization stated its belief that the new path could protect the open Internet by keeping net neutrality shields intact.
Mozilla senior policy engineer Chris Riley laid out the details of the proposal in the company's blog, stating, "We are asking the FCC to modernize its understanding of Internet access services, and apply its statutory authority for Internet data delivery services in a consistent and complete way."
The announcement comes after the DC Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the FCC order that prevented Internet Service Providers (ISPs) from blocking and discriminating against edge providers, including any website operator, application developer, or cloud service provider. Mozilla called it "alarming for all Internet users" in a previous blog entry, calling for non-discriminatory access to content. The proposal should be able to keep the line between broadband providers and customers non-restrictive, as it currently is.
"We use this as a way to get to meaningful nondiscrimination and no blocking within the last-mile network in a way that will ultimately benefit both edge providers and end users," Riley said In an interview with PC World. "The proposal doesn't require any changing of the current law and precedents out there."
FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler made an announcement in late April that he would be creating a proposal on net neutrality rules for broadband providers. Mozilla said it hoped that the FCC would review its proposal in conjunction with Wheeler's. The entire commission has been scheduled to vote on the chairman's proposal, May 15.
