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A top Republican senator introduced legislation Monday to block the Obama administration’s attempt to impose formal net neutrality rules just hours after FCC chairman Julius Genachowski announced he would seek groundbreaking new limits on ISPs — both wireline and wireless.
The new rules are intended to guarantee that citizens can use their choice of devices, services and applications, and to prevent ISPs from discriminating against services or creating high and low roads on the internet. Supporters say net neutrality rules will protect consumers and sets fair rules for all.
But Texas Republican Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson is no fan, But expressing her deep reservations that the FCC’s move would suffocate internet innovation. So she introduced an amendment to a funding bill for the Interior department on Monday. Her comments echo those of the telecom industry, which says such rules are stifling and unneccessary.
The amendment is as simple as legislation gets:
The Federal Communications Commission shall not expend any funds from any account in fiscal year 2010—
(1) to implement any Internet neutrality or network management principles; or (2) to promulgate any rules relating to such principles.
Hutchinson, a Texas gubernatorial candidate and the top Republican on the Senate Commerce, Science and Technology committee, was joined by five fellow Republicans, John Ensign (Nev.), Sam Brownback (Kansas), David Vitter (La.), Jim DeMint (S.C.) and John Thune (S.D.). While the amendment is unlikely to stop Obama’s drive to deliver on his campaign promise to back new limits on ISPs, it does show that the adoption of the rules will not be a bloodless fight.
“We must tread lightly when it comes to new regulations,” Hutchinson said. “Where there have been a handful of questionable actions in the past on the part of a few companies, the Commission and the marketplace have responded swiftly. The case has simply not been made for what amounts to a significant regulatory intervention into a vibrant marketplace.”
The cases Hutchinson refers to includes an ISP blocking internet telephone calls, Verizon prohibiting text messages based on their political content and Comcast blocking peer-to-peer traffic.
Oddly, Hutchinson’s press release seems to define “Net Neutrality” as something the Senator supports.
Net neutrality refers to policies that promote the Internet as an open platform for innovation and economic growth, while discouraging intentional discrimination against particular content or applications. These basic principles have been in place for years and have successfully spurred major advances in content, applications, and performance with minimal government involvement.
See Also:
- FCC Backs Net Neutrality — And Then Some
- Apply Net Neutrality to Skype on Smartphones, Group Asks Feds …
- Obama Nominates Net Neutrality Backer for FCC Chief
- $4 Billion in Broadband Stimulus Grants Tied to Strict Net Neutrality Rules
- Cable ISPs See Net Neutrality Foul in ESPN Online-Video Charges …
At the appropriate place, insert the following:
C. . PROHIBITION ON FCC REGARDING NET NEUTRALITY.
Source: Ryan Singel
