Google and Verizon, traditionally two of the loudest voices on either side of the Net Neutrality debate, have put aside their differences to develop a common neutrality framework.
The companies could announce a tentative compromise on managing network traffic as early as today, WSJ.comsaid.
Sources briefed on the agreement said it would allow CSPs to offer priority traffic at higher rates. But the framework would not be applied to wireless networks.
While the agreement would initially only apply between Verizon and Google, people briefed on it said it was designed to provide a possible framework for legislation that would codify the neutrality principles held by regulator FCC.
In a blog post, Verizon's media relations director said the goal was an internet policy framework, not a business deal.
In an interview with GigaOm, Google CEO Eric Schmidt confirmed that negotiations had been taking place for some time.
He said Google stood by its principles in terms of what it means by net neutrality. “What we mean is if you have one data type like video, you don’t discriminate against one person’s video in favor of another.