In response to requests from a number of parties, the FCC announced last week that we’re extending the deadline for filing reply comments in the open Internet proceeding to April 8, 2010.

The FCC doesn’t ordinarily grant requests for extensions of time, but parties asked for more time to respond to the many filings made in the opening round of comments, and to incorporate issues raised in the National Broadband Plan, which was initially scheduled to be delivered to Congress in mid-February but will now be delivered in mid-March. We felt it was appropriate to give a one-time extension of the reply comment deadline, expecting that this additional time will help everyone develop complete, useful, and data-focused replies. If you’re interested in seeing what others have filed, you can search for comments here for Proceeding Number 09-191. We look forward to hearing from you by April 8.

Wireline Competition Bureau Chief Sharon Gillett explains the draft rules under consideration in the Open Internet NPRM. She also explains more generally the FCC rule-making process at work.