April 26, 2006
Markey Net Neutrality Amendment Defeated in Mark-Up
In a vote of 22 to 34, the net neutrality amendment introduced by Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) was defeated today in the Commerce Committee mark-up of draft telecom legislation known as the Barton Bill. After a series of impassioned statements, mostly by the amendment’s proponents, Committee Chairman Joe Barton (R-TX) called for the vote.
Prior to calling the vote, Rep. Barton said “I don’t think all the draconian things are going to happen that they proclaim will happen if we don’t adopt their amendment,” dismissing the idea that broadband providers will create economic disadvantages for companies that can’t pay for fast-lane Internet access.
“If there is some bad actor out there down the road, we’ll pop ‘em,” Barton said.
Given the surprisingly strong support that network neutrality advocates generated as the Committee mark-up neared, there is little doubt that when the bill hits the House floor, yet another, potentially more intense, fight to include tougher net neutrality regulations will occur. In a statement, Gigi Sohn, President of public interest group Public Knowledge, pointed to the 11th-hour upswing in support for net neutrality regulations.
The Committee vote on the Markey amendment was more encouraging than the total might seem. Those of us who advocate for an open Internet substantially narrowed the gap between our position and those who side with AT&T, Verizon and Comcast to close off innovation. Credit should be given to Reps. Ed Markey, Rick Boucher, Anna Eshoo, Jay Inslee and John Dingell for cosponsoring the amendment, and to those members who has the courage to vote for it in the face of a fierce lobbying campaign.
Posted by Cynthia Brumfield at April 26, 2006 04:15 PM