Legislation Aimed At Blocking Net Neutrality Fails Due To Lack Of GOP Support
07/10/10 08:50
I've previously written on the issue of net neutrality, i.e.- government takeover of the internet, and its cooling effect on free speech. Congress recently had a chance to stop this power grab by the FCC, but failed to come together on the issue. Rep. Henry Waxman introduced a bill that would have expressly prohibited the reclassification of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) as telephone companies under Title II of the Telecommunications Act, reinforcing the spirit of the original law. The bill was a compromise in that it did allow a few new net neutrality regulations, but they were narrowly crafted and relatively minor compared to the larger issue of reclassification. Unfortunately, Republicans failed to get behind the legislation, and congress adjourned without any movement on the bill.
Rep. Waxman is using the lack of Republican support as an argument to go ahead and allow the FCC to regulate. Opponents of net neutrality are now focused on the Lame Duck session as it may be the last hope for a free internet.
Rep. Waxman is using the lack of Republican support as an argument to go ahead and allow the FCC to regulate. Opponents of net neutrality are now focused on the Lame Duck session as it may be the last hope for a free internet.
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