Net Neutrality Is Back in the House

Wed, 02/13/2008 - 12:46pm — Willow Cook

Many nonprofits have closely followed or participated in the Net Neutrality movement, which has sought to create safeguards that would prevent broadband providers from placing restrictions on Internet content and communication.

Now, Ars Technica is reporting a new bill in the House that attempts to "ensure that the historic, open architecture nature of the Internet will be preserved and fostered for the consumers, content providers and high tech innovators of the future."

Network neutrality looks poised for a Congressional comeback as Representatives Ed Markey (D-MA) and Chip Pickering (R-MS) prepare to introduce the Internet Freedom Preservation Act of 2008.

According to a draft version of the bill that we've seen, the Act won't try to legislate network neutrality. Instead, it adds a "Broadband Policy" section to the Communications Act that lays out a few general principles. The bill would force the FCC to see if those principles are being lived up to and whether any policy changes might be needed. In other words, the Congressmen want the FCC to do something, but they aren't ready to completely overrule the Commission's judgment.

The main questions that the FCC would have to look into concern network neutrality, specifically whether ISPs are "blocking, thwarting, or unreasonably interfering" with consumers' ability to use any device and to access any site.

The bill would also direct the FCC to hold at least eight public "broadband summits" around the country in order to "assess competition, consumer protection, and consumer choice issues related to broadband Internet access services."The FCC would also be directed to make it simple for people to submit comments over the Internet.

Read the complete article.

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