U.S. lawmakers introduce new Net neutrality bill

[OhioChick]

Source: Computer World

Broadband providers that block or slow Internet traffic would be subject to antitrust enforcement

May 8, 2008 (IDG News Service) WASHINGTON -- Two Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives have introduced a bill that would subject broadband providers to antitrust violations if they block or slow Internet traffic.

Rep. John Conyers of Michigan, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, has sponsored the Internet Freedom and Nondiscrimination Act along with Rep. Zoe Lofgren from the Silicon Valley area of California.

The legislation requires Internet service providers to interconnect with the facilities of other network providers on a reasonable and nondiscriminatory basis. It also requires them to operate their networks in a reasonable and nondiscriminatory manner so that all content, applications and services are treated the same and have an equal opportunity to reach consumers.

Any ISPs that do not follow these Net neutrality rules would be subject to antitrust enforcement.

The legislation, introduced today, earned praise from some consumer and online rights groups. Large broadband and mobile phone service providers have begun to discriminate against some content, with Comcast Corp. saying it has slowed some customer access to the BitTorrent peer-to-peer protocol during times of network congestion. Other broadband providers have talked about managing their networks or asking some popular Web sites to pay more for fast service, according to Net neutrality advocates.



Read more: http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9084318&intsrc=hm_list

[Donnachaidh]

1. heh - Cox and Charter have already broken this law, from what I've heard

I know people on both services that have had their connections frozen, because they downloaded too much. None of them knew that there was a ceiling to the amount of downloading until AFTER their accounts were frozen.

Expect a real fight from the companies over this one.

[pokercat999]

13. Hughes net the satellite service has a "fair use" clause

in their contract. If you download too much the will slow your service to dial up speed for a specified amount of time. I've never hit the ceiling. My guess is they are trying to prevent businesses from using what is intended to be a for home use retail product. But that's just a guess.

[tbyg52]

17. That's not monitoring *what* they download, though,

just how much.

On the other hand, Comcast was suppressing certain *types* of communication, which should be a HUGE no-no.

[pokercat999]

18. You are correct they are doing different things and the

Hughes.net policy is clearly stated in their contract.

[msongs]

2. will this be as effective as conyer's threats against the bush administration? nt

[skyounkin]

7. Yeah-

This law won't mean shit if Democrats do not win the White House- seriously- Anti-Trust in the United States?? That's un-possible. The last time was AT&T wasn't it? It's been a long damm time since any anti-trust was enforced.

I would love it personally but the internet would be just one aspect.

[snot]

3. K&R'D! Let's rally support!

[L. Coyote]

4. NetZero was cutting my connection every time I tried to view a YouTube

on a modem line. They also would not connect at better than 24 kbps, but advertise 56.

[magellan]

5. Ya gotta love the delusional Repug response

Competition is at "all levels of the Internet," Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.), said this week. "Our hands-off policy is working."

Oh yah, really? If competition is so good, why do I only have a choice between ONE cable company and ONE telephone company for broadband?

In the UK, customers can choose between MANY different broadband providers, not just the one offered by the phone company (BT). And the cost, even at the current deplorable $->£ exchange rate, is equal to or substantially LESS in US dollars/month than our phone company's broadband service in Orlando!!

These RW bastards think we're all ignorant.

[NationalProtrusion]

11. they love the "hands-off policy"

when it comes to big companies making money.

[alittlelark]

6. Zoe Lofgren is my congresscritter... she's getting $100 dollars

I haven't donated to her for 4 years. I suddenly feel proud!

[jeff30997]

8. Good news.

Something I would also love is a bill to prosecute the RIAA and the MPAA using

Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO).Those scums are suing little girls and

old ladies for millions to scare peoples.

Ex:

"The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) filed 261 lawsuits Monday against computer users it said were exclusively "egregious" file swappers. One of the targets wound up being Brianna Lahara, who was identified by the New York Post as a 12-year-old honors student who lives in a New York City Housing Authority apartment. "
...

"Barely 24 hours after suing alleged file swappers around the United States, the recording industry has settled its first case, agreeing to drop its case against a 12-year-old New York girl in exchange for $2,000."

Just an example picked at random with google.2000$!If it's not racketeering tell me what it is.:(

[byronius]

9. YEEEEEAAAAAHHHHHHHH CONYERS!

THE MAN NEVER STOPS TRYING TO MAKE IT RIGHT.

[McCamy Taylor]

10. Net neutrality!

[Enthusiast]

12. This simply must get done.

Without this, truth and freedom of speach will become a thing of the past as it in TV.

[Bread and Circus]

14. I love my John Conyers!

[Lint Head]

15. I have Charter and they suck. I think thy intentionally slow down

your internet speed so you will call them about not being able to access information so they can try to do a 'sell job' on buying more speed. They manipulate people. :dem:

[rosesaylavee]

16. So that's what's been going on here.

I have ATT and work from home downloading a lot of pdfs and tiff files and working on my laptop for a firm in Chicago. The last several weeks - my service has been so very very slow... I thought it was their server in the office. NO - it's more likely the goofs at ATT jamming my work?

What the hell? I am calling them today.