Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Pick your pony .....
Seems our Federal Representatives have picked up on the "net neutrality" buzz and are tripping all over themselves to enact legislation ...... but of the five bills currently working their way through various committees which is the best for the consumer and which favors the telco oligarchy. Remember don't go by the names alone .... let's not forget the "Patriot Act" and "No child left behind!"
The bills up for consideration are:
Communications Opportunity, Promotion and Enhancement Act of 2006 (HR5252)
House Commerce Committee chairman Joe Barton (R-Texas)
No major restrictions on broadband providers, but the FCC would get explicit authority to consider abuse complaints and resolve them within 90 days. Approved by Commerce Committee
Internet Freedom and Nondiscrimination Act of 2006 (HR5417)
House Judiciary Committee chairman James Sensenbrenner (R-Wisconsin) and ranking member John Conyers (D-Michigan)
Strict antitrust restrictions on access providers, preventing them from discriminating or favoring certain entities. Approved by Judiciary Committee.
Network Neutrality Act of 2006 (HR5273)Rep. Ed Markey (D-Massachusetts)
Access providers can't favor any service over another or charge any entities for higher quality of service. Still in Commerce Committee.
Internet Non-Discrimination Act of 2006 (S2360)
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon)
Access providers can't favor any service over another or charge any entities for higher quality of service. Still in Commerce Committee.
Communications, Consumer's Choice and Broadband Deployment Act of 2006 (S2686)
Senate Commerce Committee chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and co-chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii)
This comprehensive telecom bill contains no strict net-neutrality requirements but requires the FCC to study the issue.
I got most of this information from an article in Wired Magazine: Neutral Net? Who Are You Kidding?
#posted by Rob Roschewsk @ 8:22 AM