Bear backs down: Russia soft-pedals ‘net regulation proposals

As US ambassador Terry Kramer denies having threatened any walk-out or veto of the contentious ITU WCIT meeting in Dubai, reports are emerging that controversial Internet regulation proposals have been withdrawn.

If true, this report at Communications Day indicates that a turnaround has been reached, with Russia withdrawing the proposed wording of new International Telecommunications Regulations that would have brought the Internet under ITU control.

One of the authors of that report, David Bernstein of http://www.dslprime.com/ DSL Prime (in Dubai for Communications Day) told The Register that a deal has been cut on “most but not all” of the issues. Bernstein said ambassador Kramer is now showing “a very positive attitude”, with delegates being “exhorted” to move forward.

In a statement referring to reports in Dow Jones and Communications Day, covered by The Register here, that America had threatened to veto any unacceptable regulation of the Internet in revised International Telecommunications Regulations, Kramer has said in a statement:

“These speculative reports are inaccurate and unhelpful to the Conference. The United States has made no such threat, and it remains fully committed to achieving a successful conclusion to the WCIT. The U.S. Delegation will continue to provide information to the media as negotiations continue throughout this week.”

Bernstein has reiterated to The Register that he’s sticking by the original report, having checked the circumstances with Dow Jones and originally received a non-denial from ambassador Kramer’s office. ®