US House committee affirms net neutrality
Proponents of net neutrality received an official — if potentially meaningless — victory today, as the House Judiciary Committee passed a bill promising repercussions for cable and broadband-access providers who discriminate against Internet content companies like Google and Amazon.com. The bill, “Internet Freedom and Non-Discrimination Act,” would prohibit service providers from charging content companies a broadband fee and eventually causing a fragmentation of the Internet.
The debate has been heated. The Hands Off the Internet coalition, backed by AT&T and Verizon, has been fighting net neutrality regulations, instead asking companies to pay for tiers of services in order to bolster Internet investment. Otherwise, the cable companies argue, consumers will be forced to pay the entire cost of updating Web infrastructure.
But proponents of net neutrality — including the inventor of the Internet, Tim Berners-Lee — say such demands will only introduce inequality to the online world, putting an end to the level Internet playing field. And they say Internet providers will charge consumers regardless.
The impact of today’s action is still unknown, since the committee’s passage of the bill is only a recommendation. When the measure goes to the House floor, it could be tacked onto another bill, where there are no guaranteed votes.
Source: Multichannel News (through PaidContent.org), Inc. Magazine, CNET News, Wall Street Journal
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I don't buy the doomsday prophecy that the internet will "fragment" unless the government steps in to provide legislative direction. To me, getting the government involved in something like the internet IS the doomsday prophecy and should be avoided at all costs. Why can't Google and Amazon see that?
I agree that "this will only introduce inequality to the online world, putting an end to the level internet playing field". Lets continue to leave these decisions in the hands of consumers, those that use it and deal with it on a daily basis. Giving congress the power to regulate the internet is giving them control over our internet freedom.
The level field is caused by innovation and good ideas...if somebody has a great ideaor great service, enough people will want to use it that the rest will take care of itself. A lack of legislation won't keep people from using their brains...but unnecessary legislation just might.
Doesn't current FCC authority already protect consumers from violations of the principles of NN?!
I completely agree with the other posts. The Internet has done well because nobody has put their fingers in it. I am also pretty sure NJ is right; the FCC does already protect consumers in this area.