Ferguson's Record On Net Neutrality

Here's a great post from Dump Mike, the best site dedicated to Representative Michael Ferguson (R-NJ), about Ferguson's record on Net Neutrality.

Net Neutrality Bill Ready for Mark-Up's

Here's an interesting post from MyDD about the upcoming manipulation of the Net Neutrality bill.

Kentucky Governor Blocks Political Blogs

Via Political Wire:

Political bloggers "have joined pornographers, casinos and hate groups" on Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher's (R) "list of Web sites that state employees are blocked from visiting," the Louisville Courier-Journal reports.

Libertarian Republicans better start looking for a new candidate to head their state.

Jarvis on Net Neutrality

Jeff Jarvis gives personal accounts of the spin campaign that has taken control of the Net Neutrality issue in Washington D.C. here.

I saw one commercial urging a vote against neutrality ending with this punchline: “They call it net neutrality. We call it sticking it to the consumer.” This from the folks who know all about sticking it to the consumer: phone companies (and their friends).

Ignorance on Net Neutrality Rampant Within Party

Congressman Bill Pascrell (NJ-8) has disillusioned many net neutrality advocates with his support of H.R. 5252, The Communications, Opportunity, Promotion, and Enhancement Act of 2006. While many of the bill's supporters alleged that the bill increases competition in cyberspace, those in favor of complete net neutrality, including the House's sole libertarian, Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) opposed the bill.

In response to an inquiry from the BlueWaveNJ Media Reform Committee, Rep. Pascrell's office sent a letter outlining the congressman's position on net neutrality:

Thank you for contacting me regarding the future of the internet. I appreciate hearing from you and welcome this opportunity to respond.

I strongly support efforts to promote network neutrality and ensure a free exchange of ideas, goods and services over the internet. The rise of the internet has irrevocably altered our way of life, and is now an integral part of society. During recent discussion of new, comprehensive telecommunications reform legislation, the issue of network neutrality was brought forward, stemming from concerns that internet service providers, such as cable or phone companies, might begin to charge web content providers to allow subscribers speedier access to preferred websites.

The internet has provided an open forum for the exchange of ideas and for selling goods and services, with equal opportunity for entrepreneurial startups and large, established firms. The greatest corporate success stories of the last two decades were begun by entrepreneurial internet start-up companies. In their infancy, companies such a Google, Ebay and Yahoo! could not have afforded extra fees to entice customers, and by eliminating network neutrality, we make it more difficult for the next great entrepreneur to be successful.

I am not aware of any instance where network neutrality is currently being violated, and have reservations regulating a problem that does not already exist. However, I do believe that the internet should remain the most open avenue of information in our society. In order to protect this important medium, I voted in favor of a strong network neutrality amendment during floor consideration of H.R. 5252, the "Communication Opportunity, Promotion, and Enhancement Act," a bill designed to increase competition in the cable marketplace and expand our broadband infrastructure.

The net neutrality amendment, offered by colleague Rep. Ed Markey (MA), would have ensured that internet providers treat every website equally, and would not use their networks to direct traffic on the information superhighway. Unfortunately, this provision failed by a vote of 152-269. Be assured that I will continue to work with my colleagues to provide the internet with the strong neutrality protections it needs as H.R. 5252 moves through the legislative process.

Spin Mania

These are the opening lines of two articles on the same topic, the first from the Associated Press, and the second from the New York Times Business Section.

Monopolies in many cable TV markets could end under House-passed legislation that supporters said would increase competition and drive down prices.

The House of Representatives approved the most extensive telecommunications legislation in a decade on Thursday, largely ratifying the policy agenda of the nation's largest telephone companies.

Considering the consistent stance this Congress has taken against consumers, it's easy to see which sentence is true.

GOP Internet Bill Passes House

The Republican sponsored Communications Opportunity, Promotion, and Enhancement Act passed the House of Representatives yesterday 321-101. 92 Democrats and 9 Republicans voted against the bill that will, according to the ranking member of the Commerce Committee, John Dingell, give internet providers a blank check in dealing with consumers. Here is a link to the vote.

Dingle Speaks Out For Net Neutrality

Congressman John Dingle (D-MI), the longest serving member of congress (elected in 1954) spoke out against a Republican sponsored internet bill that would serve as a "giveaway to the special interests."

Dingle blasted the legislation for allowing internet providers to discriminate against cheaper websites and sparsely populated areas with poorer service.

Dingell stressed an important point: the GOP bill would have put all internet restrictions under the supervision of the FCC, the most overwhelmed and unorganized agency in Washington.

Optimistic for Net Neutrality

It looks as if net neutrality is not only being embraced by media watchdogs, but by some of the most powerful guys on Capitol Hill as well. Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI), the powerful chairman of the Judiciary Committee, is lauded as a "Net Hero" at Save the Internet, as he recently guided the Internet Non-Discrimination Act of 2006 through his committee. Chances are that he had a very direct role in securing Republican votes for the legislation that would prevent large internet providers from giving better service to companies that pay more.

Net Neutrality

Adam Cohen had an interesting article on net neutrality the other day.

He described the efforts of Sir Tim Berners-Lee, the founder of the World Wide Web, to keep the internet neutral. What the article sums up the idea that the web is not merely another means of communication for the media. The internet has a unique role in the global community as a platform for literally everyone, with or without access to a computer.

However, this is threatened by discriminatory practices by the same corporations that currently run the mainstream media.