RSSNet Neutrality Provision Struck Down
By Ed Oswald | Published April 6, 2006, 11:16 AM
Like many things these days in Washington, a rift between Democrats and Republicans over the concept of net neutrality seems to be growing. The Republican controlled House Energy and Commerce subcommittee struck down a Democratic proposal that would have prevented broadband providers from charging a premium to companies for delivery of content.
Several Internet firms including Google, Microsoft and Yahoo among others sided with Democrats. They claimed such an amendment was critical in order to ensure a two-tier Internet would not form as a result. The amendment failed 23 to 8.
"Why on earth would we tinker with the non-discriminatory nature of the Internet?" Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA), the amendment's author said before the vote Wednesday. "We will shortly vote to either preserve the Internet as we know it, or fundamentally and detrimentally alter it."
Opponents of the bill are worried that companies that own the pipes through which Internet traffic travels could prioritize traffic so that their own services get top billing to the detriment of others. Democrats repeatedly called the policy "unfair" in testimony Wednesday.
Even after the debate on the amendment, the entire bill passed the committee by a 27 to 4 vote. The bill now goes to full committee later this month before being brought to the House at large.
The legislation would also allow telecommunications companies to rollout television services without community approval. Companies like Verizon have complained that local cable operators are bribing officials to vote against awarding new contracts, slowing down their network rollouts.
Many politicians have cited the out-of-control prices of cable television access and seemingly never-ending fee increases as a reason to back that portion of the bill. So far, that has seen bipartisan support.
Your Grandfather's telephone was dumb and the phone system was an application built into the network. Those were the gravy days for network operators.
Today the Internet a dumb packet delivery service and the applications at the end points can do any amazing thing you can think up. The network operators don't like being in the commodity packet delivery business. They miss the old days when they could pump up monthly statements with vague and complicated application features.
I think this was the right legislative response. If you are a network operator who can't let go of yesteryear, go ahead build applications into your network. But in the process you cannot degrade the performance of a competitor's application or the FCC will come after you.
So the network operators have the right to sell something that nobody wants. We just need to watch them so they don't degrade the Internet product we do want in order to create a demand for “enhanced” products.
Score: 0
|Did anyone READ this story.. IMHO it is Funked up!!
The Republican controlled House Energy and Commerce subcommittee struck down a Democratic proposal that would have prevented broadband providers from charging a premium to companies for delivery of content.
(Ok so the dems are trying to keep the internet free and non prioritized)
Several Internet firms including Google, Microsoft and Yahoo among others sided with Democrats. They claimed such an amendment was critical in order to ensure a two-tier Internet would not form as a result. The amendment failed 23 to 8.
Ok so google yahoo MS and others are siding with the Dems. (Isnt tere already a 2 tier Internet Local ISP's/Backbones)
Now for the funked up stuff
Opponents (Rep's) of the bill are worried that companies that own the pipes through which Internet traffic travels could prioritize traffic so that their own services get top billing to the detriment of others. Democrats repeatedly called the policy "unfair" in testimony Wednesday.
Ok So the Reps are against the bill and feel that backbone places like MCI/Level 3 ect could charge a higher price for VOIP traffic
So The Dems are wanting a 2 tier internet (if that is the case why look to introduce a bill) The Reps are against it and think that the Dems are trying to create a unfair policy.
So what the heck is the point of the story???
Score: 0
|OMG, here we go...
...First of all, all Democrats are not in agreement about this issue, nor are all Republicans necessarily against it. Secondly, claiming that Republicans want more taxes (refering to someones comment below) is BS--even ultra-liberals agree GWB is 'claiming' or 'trying' or whatever--to cut taxes. Whether it is a fair or just tax cut or not is not for us to discuss here, but my point is that nobody I'm aware of has seriously backed any measures to create a tax on the web--at least from the Republican party.
Let's try to be civilized people here and have a civilized discussion.
Score: 0
|Senators back new broadband taxes:
http://news.com.com/Sena...100-1034_3-6044165.html
Score: 0
|Beware!!, Its Pay for all you do on the internet!, coming soon!!Theres no stopping it!!
Score: 0
|But Rat, when's the last time you heard Democrats saying "hands off" to something? OK, outside ANWR...
Score: 0
|And domestic spying using the Internet. And rebuilding foreign countries. And added taxes to pay for all of the military costs.
In fact, the old stereotypes about Democrats and Republicans seem to have been reversed in the last 4 years :)
Score: 0
|OK...I'm officially leaving this thread forever now. I cannot stand idiots who...
...no, I must leave, must not become political firestorm--ARRGGHH!!!
Score: 0
|Just turn on Fox News and return to the Matrix. All will be better, as ignorance is bliss.
Score: 0
|...
BetaNews sure made a partisan political issue out of this !
Facts are: America has the most free, most comprehensive, most egalatarian Internet access BECAUSE we keep the Socialist Democrats from imposing the kind of restrictions typical in Europe and Third World coulntries.
If the Democrats / BetaNews had their way, the United States would be begging for $100 United Nations computers with hand-cranks to get on the Internet !
...
The Computer Rodent
...
Score: 0
|Ah, glad you cleared up those facts. I like when I'm spoon fed facts, O'Rielly Factor style.
Score: 0
|Umm, it's the Democrats who want to prevent companies from instituting additional fees and keep the Internet free to everyone. It's the Republicans that want to a) tax the Internet b) enable network providers to close off their networks to competitors and c) charge extra fees for preferred access.
You seem to be backwards on this.
Score: 0
|I will ignore your comment regarding O'Reilly. I will ignore your comment regarding O'Reilly. I will ignore your comment regarding O'Reilly...(must keep repeating to myself)
Score: 0
|In Europe access is much better.
And there is OLRS. Who needs internet providers?
Score: 0
|