IP Democracy: Revised Stevens Bill is a Compromise on Net Neutrality

After looking at the new revised Stevens bill over the weekend, I asked whether the new section containing an “Internet Consumer Bill of Rights” isn’t almost, but not quite, what net neutrality advocates need. While the bill doesn’t outright ban discrimination, and it still bars the FCC from actively regulating, it also preserves the consumer’s right to access any Internet content or application. More importantly, it extends First Amendment free speech rights to the Internet.

Now, it’s clear that Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-AK) intended for this section to be a compromise to satisfy net neutrality critics — a move aimed to remove impediments to the bill’s passage this Congress. Drew’s take on this:

Most significantly, this new draft makes good on the pledge Stevens made, 11 days ago, to significantly modify the Net Neutrality provisions of the legislation. Indeed, an entire new section is present — “Internet Consumer Bill of Rights Act” — goes so far as to “apply” the First Amendment to Bell companies that would attempt to “limit, restrict, ban, prohibit or otherwise regulate content on the Internet because of the religious views, political views, or any other views expressed in such content unless specifically authorized by law.” All of the Bell and cable companies have already said that they wouldn’t block or impede the abilty of consumers to access such sites.

Reuters’ Jeremy Pelofsky also recognizes the new “Bill of Rights” as a step toward accomodating net neutrality critics of telecom reform legislation.

Posted by Cynthia Brumfield on June 19, 2006 7:14 AM to IP Democracy