Last Wednesday, the House Energy and Commerce Committee struck down a key
legislative proposal [pdf] from Representative Ed Markey that would preserve network neutrality on the Internet. The legislation was offered as an amendement to Rep. Joe Barton's Communications Opportunity, Promotion, and Enhancement Act of 2006 (COPE Act).
Network neutrality is the guiding principle that has shaped the development and use of the Internet. It ensures that all users have access to the content, applications, and devices of their choice. The networks that provide access to all of this remain just the conduits to this information--they cannot interfere in it's delivery. Barton's COPE Act would end all that, turning the network providers--the people who own the pipes the information flows through--into the gatekeepers of the Internet.
The opposition to net neutrality, which consists of the telecoms and the members of Congress they've succeeded in buying off, insist that this huge giveaway of the Internet to a handful of gigantic companies is critical to the growth and economic opportunities, that without it the telecoms will not be willing to innovate on high-speed technologies. Rather than recognize that, operating under net neutrality since it's inception, the Internet has driven unprecedented technology growth and innovation.
They term net neutrality proponents "Luddites," afraid of Internet growth. The folks at Google, Yahoo, Intel, Microsoft and any number of high tech companies will certainly be amused to discover they are Luddites. Whatever talking points these folks come up with, their intention is clear: optimizing the profits of a very few companies while restricting your access to the Internet. Think cable TV, and you'll have a pretty good idea of what they have in mind.
We lost the vote in the Energy and Commerce Committee last week, but succeeded in getting a lot of the committee Democrats to our side. All it took was a little education from us. We need to exercise our educational abilities again in the next few days. Rep. Markey is going to be asking the Rules Committee to approve his legislation as an amendment to the COPE Act when it goes to the floor for a vote by the full House later on in the week. Contact the Rules Committee members to let them know the Markey network neutrality legislation should be considered by the entire House of Representatives.
Update [2006-5-2 13:1:37 by mcjoan]: Markey has introduced his legislation as a stand alone. So hold off on calling any of these Committee members. And call your Representative, urging them to support Markey's Network Neutrality Act of 2006.
Democrats
Republicans
- David Drier, CA - Chairman, (202) 225-2305
- Lincoln Diaz-Balart, FL, (202)225-4211
- Doc Hastings, WA, (202) 225-5816
- Pete Sessions, TX. (202) 225-2231
- Adam Putnam, FL, (202) 225-1252
- Shelley Moore Capito, WV, (202) 225-2711
- Tom Cole, OK, (202) 225-6165
- Rob Bishop, UT, (202) 225-0453
- Phil Gingrey, GA, 202-225-2931