Microsoft, Yahoo Weigh In On FCC's Proposed 'Open Internet' Rules

Microsoft and Yahoo on Thursday gingerly weighed into the Federal Communications Commission's proposed Network Neutrality rules. "Yahoo! believes that all stakeholders - consumers, ISPs, online portals, Congress, the FCC and the FTC - should find a consensus on how best to ensure that Americans have access to a world-class Internet and an increasingly competitive online environment," said Yahoo! spokeswoman Nina Blackwell. "We have modeled openness on our network - prominent examples include our new front page and cloud computing issues." "Microsoft supports the right of consumers to access Internet content, services, and applications of their choice and to connect any non-harmful device to their broadband connections," said a Microsoft spokesman. "We also believe that Congress should ensure that network operators are able to offer last mile service enhancements and tiers of service, either to consumers or to online service providers and that those enhanced offerings must not unfairly interfere with the ability of consumers to access online content, products, and services of their choice or with the ability of online providers to deliver their products to consumers over the network operator's facilities," the spokesman continued.