A series of much-criticized stakeholder meetings on the contentious issue of “network neutrality” or open internet regulations collapsed today as the Federal Communications Commission pulled out of negotiations with AT&T, Google, Verizon and Skype.

The conversations were lambasted by the public interest community, which was not allowed to send participants to the discussion between the media mega-corporations and the agency that regulates them

Yesterday, persistent rumors in the press indicated a deal between Google and Verizon which featured improved network management standards paired with movement towards prioritization of website content between the two large companies. The agreement also reportedly exempted wireless networks from any rules prohibiting the blocking and slowing of content.

Julius Genachowski’s chief of staff stated to the Washington Post this afternoon, “We have called off this round of stakeholder discussions”.

Google, which uses the socially conscious “Don’t be evil” as a marketing slogan, was well known as a corporate proponent of an open Internet.

Tracy Rosenberg, Executive Director of Media Alliance says, “These talks were a bad idea in the first place. The future development of the Internet isn’t just up to Google”.

With the FCC withdrawal from the stakeholder meetings, the regulatory future remains up for grabs.

One thing is certain, if left up to the industry stakeholders, the Internet so many of use and depend on today - will not remain the same.

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