The bill passed Thursday would make it easier for telephone companies to enter the subscription television market, Yahoo News reports. While a bill passed in the US House Judiciary Committee close to two weeks ago in support of a net neutrality amendment, advocating for legislation to protect Internet users from pricing discrimination, Thursday’s amendment was voted down, 269-152.

Proponents of net neutrality — including Google, Microsoft and Yahoo — have argued that without preventative legislation, service providers will charge Internet content companies fees and potentially “fragment” the Internet, creating different tiers of service. Those against net neutrality say government intervention, not actions by service providers, is what will create the uneven playing field that net neutrality supporters are trying to combat.

The legislation that did pass in favor of national video franchising could have significant implications across the media spectrum. House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Joe Barton, R-Texas: “This legislation can increase competition not only for cable services, but also unleash a race for who can supply the fastest, most sophisticated broadband connections that will provide video, voice and data services.”

The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee will vote on a version of Thursday’s bill later this month, as well as continue the net neutrality debate.

Source: Yahoo News (through PaidContent.org)