Democrats revive another Net neutrality proposal

[Brian Warkoczeski]

Democrats revive another Net neutrality proposal

By Anne Broache, www.cnet.com

May 8, 2008

The only Net neutrality proposal to encounter some measure of success in 
the U.S. Congress is back again for another try.

As foreshadowed at a March hearing, House Judiciary Committee Chairman 
John Conyers (D-Mich.) on Thursday reintroduced the Internet Freedom and 
Non-discrimination Act, which passed by a 20-13 vote in the same 
committee in 2006. Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) is co-sponsoring the 
bill, but so far, it is not clear whether any Republicans have signed on.

Just like last time, the bill would rewrite U.S. antitrust law to 
prohibit network operators like AT&T and Comcast from blocking, 
impairing, or discriminating against "lawful" Internet content, 
applications, and services or charging extra fees for "prioritization or 
enhanced quality of service."

"The Internet was designed without centralized control, without 
gatekeepers for content and services," Conyers said in a statement. "If 
we allow companies with monopoly or duopoly power to control how the 
Internet operates, network providers could have the power to choose what 
content is available."

The five-page measure would provide exceptions for things like 
"reasonable and nondiscriminatory" network management necessary to keep 
the network running smoothly and compliance with other laws and court 
orders.

The bill's introduction comes on the heels of a hearing earlier this 
week about a Net neutrality proposal in a competing House panel, the 
Energy and Commerce Committee, which traditionally engaged in turf 
battles with the Judiciary Committee over certain matters.

Net neutrality, of course, is the idea that network operators shouldn't 
be allowed to prioritize information that rides on their pipes. 
Advocates of legislation--including Google, Amazon.com, eBay, and a 
variety of consumer advocacy groups--argue rules are necessary to keep 
the Internet free, open, and democratic, so that small start-ups can be 
on a level playing field with more established companies. Network 
operators, by contrast, say new rules will stifle investments in new 
broadband networks and deprive them of the flexibility they need to keep 
their services running smoothly.