Posted January 12, 2007.

Net Neutrality Bill Reintroduced in Senate

Two senators reintroduced a bill January 9 that would prohibit broadband companies from offering preferential treatment to internet content providers who pay for premium service. Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N. Dak.) and Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) were joined by six other senators, including Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Barack Obama (D-Ill.), in sponsoring the Internet Freedom Preservation Act (S. 215), which is identical to a bill rejected 11–11 last year by the Senate Commerce Committee.

Backers of the network neutrality legislation hope that the new Democratic majority in Congress will improve its chances this year. The bill specifies that telecoms shall not “block, interfere with, discriminate against, impair, or degrade the ability of any person to use a broadband service.” It also requires companies to offer an option for broadband service that is not bundled with cable, phone, or Voice Over Internet Phone service.

“I think we have a shot at getting this done,” Dorgan said in the January 9 Washington Post. “It’s controversial, it’s not easy, but it’s really important public policy.” The online CNet news service reported January 9 that Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) was expected to reintroduce his own net neutrality proposal from last year.

Advocates cheered concessions made by AT&T in agreeing to adhere to network neutrality rules for two years in order to secure FCC approval for its $86-billion takeover of BellSouth Corporation in December.

Posted January 12, 2007.