Despite seat at table, AT&T outed delicate network neutrality talks

Seeking to weaken potential regulations, AT&T is actively working to complicate the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) renewed effort to broker a compromise on network neutrality.

Industry and Hill sources said that an AT&T official made public last week that the agency has quietly undertaken a new round of negotiation. The sources stressed that they had obtained this information through AT&T channels. The delicate FCC effort is aimed at resolving one of the most fractious issues in tech policy. The hope was to quietly consult with industry and public interest stakeholders while insulating the negotiations from the noisy politicking the question stirs on both sides. FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski invited industry and public interest sources to help shape a possible compromise, giving AT&T a major seat at the table. Public advocates are concerned about how much Genachowski appears to be listening to AT&T, with one saying he has practically given them "veto powers." Ex parte filings show that AT&T officials consulted frequently with the agency this month. Policy executive Jim Cicconi met with Genachowski's office the day before the new net neutrality effort became public.