Net Neutrality Bill Takes Another Hit

The unending pursuit for higher prices for internet consumers took a major hit in the U.S. Senate today. The Commerce Committee defeated a bill that would basically allow mega-cable companies, internet providers and phone companies like AT&T and Verizon to charge based on bandwidth consumption. Democrats argue, and correctly so, that this will create a two-tiered Internet with a fast lane for those who can afford it and a slow lane for those who can't.

Internetnews.com reports that Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) joined with the 10 Democrats on the Committee to force a tie in a vote to recommend the bill to the full Senate.

"Broadband operators will be able to pick winners and losers," Snowe said. "That is the cable model. Do we want that to be the Internet model?"

Under the rules of the Senate, legislation must receive a majority in committee to recommend passage to the full Senate. The bill will now go to the full Senate without recommendation which could signal to the members to vote against the legislation.

Tech titans such as Microsoft and Google are urging the inclusion of strong wording in the legislation to preserve "net neutrality". According to internetnews.com reports

They argue the telephone and cable companies' plan to charge based on bandwidth consumption will create a two-tiered Internet with a fast lane for those who can afford it and a slow lane for those who can't.

Let's hope the full Senate also rejects the legislation without strong "net neutrality" language. I would urge you to contact your Senator and urge them to give this legislation the NO vote it deserves. You can contact him/her via the Senate switchboard toll free -- and they will connect your call to the Senator's office of your choice at 888-355-3588 or 888-818-6641.