[Infowarrior] - Bill Bars Web Traffic Discrimination

[Richard Forno]

Bill Bars Web Traffic Discrimination

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/technology/AP-Data-discrimination-Bill.html

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: February 13, 2008

Filed at 3:57 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A Democratic lawmaker on Wednesday proposed legislation
to stop network providers from playing traffic cop on the Internet.

Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., chairman of the House Energy and Commerce
Committee's subcommittee on telecommunications and the Internet, introduced
the bill to promote the principle, known as ''Net neutrality,'' of treating
all Internet traffic equally.

Markey, who introduced similar legislation in 2006, said the bill doesn't
regulate the Internet, only makes sure the rules of online engagement are
fair. His spokeswoman said he wanted to defuse critics' arguments that the
bill amounts to regulation, which she called inaccurate.

''It does, however, suggest that the principles which have guided the
Internet's development and expansion are highly worthy of retention, and it
seeks to enshrine such principles in the law as guide stars for U.S.
broadband policy,'' Markey said of The Internet Freedom Preservation Act

Phone and cable companies say they want the freedom to charge content
providers for access to the Internet's fast lane. Any legislation affirming
Net neutrality, they argue, would harm investment and innovation in the
Internet.

The Hands Off the Internet coalition, whose members include AT&T, Qwest
Communications International Inc. and others, said Markey's bill leaves
regulatory fingerprints, regardless of what he calls it.

Supporters of the bill, including Google and public interest groups, contend
it just protects consumers without hamstringing development or driving up
costs.

The bill, co-sponsored by Rep. Chip Pickering, R-Miss., requires the Federal
Communications Commission to assess whether broadband providers are
''blocking, thwarting or unreasonably interfering'' with consumers' rights
to access, send, receive or offer content, applications and services over
networks.

The FCC would also be required to determine whether providers charge extra
for certain services and if it's lawful.

The bill also requires the agency to hold at least eight summits around the
country to get input from various groups about Internet service competition
and services.

An FCC spokesman declined to comment on pending legislation.

The bill was drafted in response to reports that some companies, including
Comcast Corp., are unfairly stifling communications over the Internet.

Markey spokeswoman Jessica Schafer said the agency already has the authority
to enforce such practices.

She cited the agency's investigation of Philadelphia-based Comcast, the
country's second-largest Internet provider. On Tuesday, Comcast told the FCC
in formal comments that hampering some file-sharing by its subscribers was a
justifiable way to keep Web traffic flowing for everyone.

Consumer groups, lawmakers and other critics have complained that Comcast
violated Net neutrality. The company declined to comment on Markey's bill.

Schafer also said a North Carolina telephone company, Madison River
Communications LLC, paid $15,000 to the FCC in 2005 to settle allegations it
blocked phone lines that customers used to make calls over the Internet.
Under the settlement, the company could not block Internet calls in the
future, but did not admit to violating any rules.