Markey's so-called "Internet neutrality" Amend defeated

[katty]

cont'd: http://business.bostonherald.com/businessNews/view.bg?articleid=136817

Two-tiered Internet: Panel paves way for fees
By Jay Fitzgerald
Boston Herald General Economics Reporter

Thursday, April 27, 2006 - Updated: 02:04 AM EST


A Republican-controlled House committee yesterday rejected a measure by U.S. Rep. Edward Markey (D-Malden) that would have barred telecommunication companies from socking Web sites with extra fees based on bandwidth usage.

Markey’s so-called “Internet neutrality” amendment was defeated on a 34-22 vote by members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

With defeat of the amendment, Markey warned yesterday that America is moving closer to a two-tiered Internet system in which telecom firms such as AT&T, Verizon, Comcast and other firms can start giving special price deals to some users - while hitting others with higher fees.

“If that’s what happens, it will be the fast lane for the preferred (players) and the slow lane for others,” he said.

A politically diverse group of Gun Owners of America, Common Cause, the American Civil Liberties Union and others bemoaned what they call an attempt by giant telecom companies to effectively take over the Internet.

[katinmn]

1. Damn. I thought the measure was defeated. :-(

The Right Wingers wanted to ramrod this through like so many other bills but our side is better organized than ever.

I must have gotten emails from 10 groups asking people to call legislators to stop the bill.

How can this happen?

[electropop]

3. Sorry, the Wingers won this round.

We are screwed if we can't stop it on the floor.

[pokercat999]

4. Better re-read the article. The repugs defeated the

amendment that would have kept the internet neutral.
At least that's how I read it. Hope I'm wrong but I don't think so.

[electropop]

2. "so-called"..."bemoaned"...

This derogatory BS and distortion reveals which side the Herald is on. Disgusting.

Their description is inaccurate too. The sites (competitors) they want to charge fees to are not the telecoms' "users," they are the reason that the telecoms users are paying to be connected.

What the telecoms want to do is charge (double charge) both their users and their competitors for service the users are already fully paying for.

[napi21]

5. I sent my Rep. a notice to vote for this ammendment on the floor.

e voted against it in committee, and I explained how disappointed I was in his actions.

All of you need to do the same! If they get enough response, they'll vote it down!