Despite it being the week before Christmas, there are a couple huge deals coming down, even outside of Congress, which could ratify a nuclear arms reduction treaty. Tomorrow, the US Census will provide the preliminary results of their 2010 canvas, including the reapportionment of Congressional seats to the various states. So we’ll know which states will pick up seats and which will lose them tomorrow. Redistricting will then proceed from there, with the final maps expected on a rolling basis in 2011. The general forecast is that districts will shift from states that went to Obama in 2008 to states that went to McCain by a slight amount, though that’s a very generalized take. Here’s a preview.

The other big deal tomorrow is the FCC hearing on net neutrality, which should result in a vote on Julius Genachowski’s fake net neutrality plan. The Republican commissioners on the panel basically don’t want any regulation whatsoever, so in order to pass this, Genachowski needs the support of Mignon Clyburn and Michael Copps. Copps, at least, has been a steadfast supporter of real Internet freedom, and he holds a lot of the cards here. National Journal reports that Genachowski has been negotiating with him:

An FCC source familiar with the negotiations said progress is being made in three key areas: addressing concerns about wireless carriers, limiting Internet toll lanes and adding protections for a new online pricing model.

Responding to the complaint that the proposal, announced Dec. 1, would not bar discriminatory blocking of rival applications and services by wireless carriers. Genachowski appears willing to have the FCC monitor the situation over the next two years. Critics have noted that the proposed rules are more stringent for wireline carriers, even though Americans are rapidly gravitating to mobile connectivity.

Wireless carriers have endorsed (albeit grudgingly) the net neutrality plan, offering Genachowski critical industry support that can help dampen congressional criticism. They insist they need maximum flexibility in operating their networks due to capacity constraints, and won’t block competitors.

If clear violations emerge, the agency would promulgate new protections down the road, the source said. Genachowski’s side has argued during closed-door negotiations that since the wireless market is still developing, tougher rules shouldn’t be applied now. Despite the progress, the source said the fate of the net neutrality proposal hinges on details to be ironed out over wireless service.

Copps and Clyburn also want to limit paid prioritization, which basically would allow service providers to set up toll booths on the Internet and allow companies to pay for faster load times. And they want to limit online pricing, particularly on customers of online video, when the ISP clearly wants to transition those consumers into their own video services.

There’s quite a bit about limiting here, but not outright banning these practices. I’d be particularly concerned by paid prioritization, because that seems to give away the whole game. And I agree that if you delay rules on wireless now, you probably will never get back to it in the future.

Genachowski is getting some heat from members of Congress for his proposal, but ultimately it’s Michael Copps who will have to take a stand.

You’ll be able to watch a live stream of the net neutrality hearing at the FCC tomorrow at Save the Internet. It starts at 10:30am ET.