The FCC has been working hard to hammer out a set of rules by which the internet will operate moving into the future. At stake is exactly how ISPs will be allowed to manage the traffic on their networks. Many consumer advocacy firms want ISPs to treat all traffic the same way while major carriers like AT&T and Verizon say they have to be able to regulate traffic as they see fit.

With elections coming in November, the FCC is delaying setting any rules or guidelines for internet traffic in stone reports Reuters. The FCC has been asking for comments by the public and major ISPs, internet businesses, and wireless carriers on how they think traffic on the web should be handled. Predictably, the rule making is slow going with companies at odds with how they think things should be handled online.

The FCC has hosted many talks with companies like Verizon, AT&T, and Google but so far no set plans have come from those meetings.  FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski has delayed making a decision on how or if the internet will be regulated and is seeking an additional 55-day period of public comment. Reuters quotes Genachowski stating, "We have made progress over the last year -- but we still have work to do."

Analysts don't expect the FCC to make any proposals for regulation in its September 23 meeting nor are any drafts expected at the October meeting of the FCC. Analyst Rebecca Arbogast from Nicolaus Stifel said, "The chairman could cite progress in the industry talks as grounds for delaying circulating a draft order, and postpone a decision until after the election."

Genachowski will have to deal with the proposal from Google and Verizon to allow neutrality to be used on the wired web but to allow wireless carriers to control their traffic. The draft also suggested a dual tier plan where sites like Google could pay carriers for faster access.

The FCC wasn't onboard with the draft of the Google/Verizon pact and continues to seek input while AT&T has voiced its support for the framework.