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.
