Markey, Eshoo Unveil Net Neutrality Bill
Reps. Edward Markey, D-Mass., and Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., reprised the congressional push for a so-called "network neutrality" mandate on Friday by introducing legislation that would prevent Internet service providers such as telephone and cable companies from interfering with Web content that passes through their pipelines. The bill would essentially bar ISPs from using the claim of network management to impose their own priorities on data traffic, based on financial arrangements or other considerations.
Open Internet groups cheered the move. Public Knowledge President Gigi Sohn said the measure would "bring online certainty to millions of Internet users and companies" and Ben Scott, policy director for Free Press, said the legislation would "help to ensure that the public -- not big phone and cable companies -- controls the fate of the Internet." Prior attempts at legislating in this arena have been met with fierce lobbying for and against the measures but they ultimately failed.
U.S. Telecom Association President Walter McCormick called the bill's introduction "a disappointing but not unexpected development." He said the language "would not preserve Internet freedom, but would instead lead to a government-managed Internet." President Obama, however, has repeatedly called for net neutrality and new FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski plans to fortify the agency's Internet guidelines -- which focus on protecting consumer rights -- by adding a fifth principle explicitly barring discriminatory behavior by broadband providers.
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