WASHINGTON - August 18 - The Wall Street Journal reports that "broadband and telecommunications lobbyists restarted talks Wednesday to agree to a proposal for how Internet traffic should be managed." The talks are being held at the offices of the Information Technology Industry Council, a lobbying group that represents dozens of technology companies.

Free Press Policy Counsel Aparna Sridhar made the following statement:

"Industry deal-making is no substitute for responsible policymaking. This latest effort by a few large companies to dictate the rules behind closed doors will not protect Internet users. Industry titans will propose rules that serve only their own interests. The uproar over the Verizon-Google deal leaves no room for doubt that the public rejects these secretive negotiations - and so should the FCC.

"It's time for the FCC to take back its role as a policymaking body and act quickly to re-establish its authority over broadband and to adopt meaningful rules to protect the openness of the Internet for all Americans."