Here's a copy of the bill: http://static.publicknowledge.org/pdf/20060327-house-telecom-print.pdf Note how the Net neutrality section is less regulatory than the November draft: http://energycommerce.house.gov/108/news/11032005_Broadband.pdf Some critical views of Net neutrality mandates, from a technologist's perspective: http://www.onlyrepublican.com/orinsf/2006/03/resisting_the_n.html http://www.onlyrepublican.com/orinsf/2006/03/taking_sides_on.html News coverage: http://news.com.com/2100-1028_3-6055108.html http://news.com.com/2100-1036_3-6054567.html -Declan --- March 29, 2006 The Honorable Joe Barton Chairman Committee on Energy & Commerce 2123 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Hon Fred Upton Chairman Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet 2123 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Chairmen Barton and Upton: We are extremely concerned that legislation before your Committee would fail to protect the Internet from discrimination and would deny consumers unfettered access to the tremendous scope of content, applications and services that are available today on the Internet and will be developed in the future. This bill would allow for such a fundamental change in the paradigm of the Internet that it would frustrate the reasonable expectations of the tens of millions of Americans who go online. The “network neutrality” provisions in H.R. ____, “The Communications Opportunity, Promotion, and Enhancement Act of 2006,” fall well short of what is needed to ensure that consumers and content providers can rely on the Internet as an engine of growth and innovation. The Internet has driven the American economy and productivity for the past ten years because it enables innovation without permission. A good idea, technology savvy, and an eye for what consumers want has allowed entrepreneurial innovators to reach a global market on the Internet. Consumers embraced the Internet because innovation was rapid and anyone could provide lawful content without interference or permission from those companies that control the networks. This policy has been a hallmark feature of the Internet and is a principal reason why our companies and the U.S. Internet industry are global leaders today. That policy is at risk, and that is why we have urged Congress to adopt network neutrality requirements that are meaningful and enforceable. The provisions in the Committee bill achieve neither goal. We affirm our commitment to working with you and your colleagues to craft legislation that preserves the Internet for the tens of millions of Americans that rely on it as a vibrant source of content and services that they use every single day. Sincerely, Amazon.com eBay Google IAC/InterActive Corp. Microsoft Yahoo! cc: Rep. John D. Dingell Rep. Edward J. Markey Members of the Committee on Energy & Commerce _______________________________________________ Politech mailing list Archived at http://www.politechbot.com/ Moderated by Declan McCullagh (http://www.mccullagh.org/)
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