House votes no to Internet neutrality

House Republicans adamant that the government keep its hands off the Internet passed a bill Friday to repeal federal rules barring Internet service providers from blocking or interfering with traffic on their networks.

Republicans, in voting to repeal rules on "network neutrality" set down by the Federal Communications Commission, said the FCC lacked the authority to promulgate the rules. They disputed the need to intervene in an already-open Internet and warned that the rules would stifle investment in broadband systems.

The FCC power grab

"The FCC power grab would allow it to regulate any interstate communication service on barely more than a whim and without any additional input from Congress," said Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., sponsor of the legislation.

Even if it cleared Congress, the White House has threatened to veto a bill it said puts in doubt whether "the democratic spirit of the Internet will remain intact."

U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., was an early and vociferous opponent of the FCC's December rulemaking and had vowed to kill it. She has introduced legislation to prohibit the FCC from regulating the Internet, saying Congress alone should have that authority.

The FCC rules were adopted on a 3-2 vote last December afterwards years of debate over the federal role in ensuring a free and open Internet. The FCC's three Democrats voted in support, and its two Republicans were opposed.

While as a rule seen as a compromise between research companies fearing provider limitations on their access to the Internet and the big phone and cable companies insisting they need flexibility to manage Internet traffic, the rules drew a quick legal challenge from Verizon Communications Inc., which said the FCC had overstepped its authority.

The rules prohibit phone

The rules prohibit phone and cable companies from favoring or discriminating against Internet content and services, including online calling services just as Skype and web video services just as Netflix that could compete with their core operations. They require broadband providers to let subscribers access all legal online content.

Want to use Skype for free, or pay the cheap price for Vonage, nevertheless your internet company has it's own VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) service? Ooooh, sorry. Your internet company won't let you access that! Either that or they will bottleneck the bandwidth so that using it is impossible. And guess what? You'll have to pay to use theirs.

THESE RULES WERE IN PLACE FOR A REASON. If you want the internet as you know it to die, just allow them to repeal net neutrality.

FreePress.net has brought this issue to the attention of many and you describe very so then the meaning and purpose of internet neutrality. Marsha Blackburn has long had a reputation of selling herself in many ways and she has blatantly done so again in her paid support of big media. The passing of this bill serves only the media conglomerates and does not promote the purpose of the internet to contribute to the public dialogue. Let's hope the senators will use more common sense.

The Internet?

Why does Marsha Want Congress to Regulate the Internet? Why not just say NO FEDERAL branch has any authority to decide or rule on any aspect concerning the Internet?

BUT Marsha Blackburn did Vote FOR: Patriot Act Reauthorization, Electronic Surveillance, Funding the REAL ID Act, Foreign Intelligence Surveillance, Thought Crimes "Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act, Warrantless Searches, Employee Verification Program, Body Imaging Screening, Patriot Act extension; and only NOW she is worried about free speech, privacy, and government take over of the internet?

What they want

Let comcast do what they want, it is a private business and if you don't like them, get a different provider. Get the Government OUT OF IT !

Ummm, some of you are confused about the "regulation". It as a matter of fact gives you, the person who pays the bill, more access. The "regulation" means that the money-makers, like Comcast, could limit the "free" content available for their subscribers. And if you don't like Comcast, try AT&T, so they can limit something different. Just because you are Republican does not mean you want to support this measure. Pay attention to what it does for you. The internet providers have enough money to fight their own battles. You need to understand how the regulation helps or hurts you earlier you decide about it. Remember that some of our elected representatives owe favors and they attempt to repay them with stuff like this. All voters need to make sure their representatives are paying them back for voting them in office.