Citizens Sign on to Co-Sponsor the Markey Amendment
April 26th, 2006 by tkarrRep. Nancy Pelosi of California has opened the halls of Congress to you and me — but we must act today. She’s asked citizens to co-sponsor Rep. Ed Markey’s net neutrality amendment. All you need do is visit Pelosi’s site and sign below the “Save the Internet” statement. Here’s a snippet:
We, the undersigned, oppose the lack of Network Neutrality protections in the the COPE Act, sponsored by Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX). We strongly urge passage of the Network Neutrality amendment sponsored by Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA), along with Representatives Rick Boucher (D-VA), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), and Jay Inslee (D-WA).
Whereas, the free and open nature of the Internet has fostered unprecedented innovation and economic growth;
Whereas, a fundamental part of the Internet’s nature is the fact that no one owns it and it is open to all comers;
Whereas, the Barton Bill would block the FCC from restoring meaningful protections for Internet consumers and entrepreneurs, and from prohibiting the imposition of bottleneck taxes and other discriminatory actions on the part of broadband network operators, such as AT&T and Verizon;
Whereas, the imposition of additional fees for Internet content providers would unduly burden web-based small businesses, start-ups, as well as communications for non-commercial users, religious speech, civic involvement, and exercising our First Amendment freedoms;
Whereas, the Markey amendment will effectively thwart attempts by broadband behemoths to block, impair, or degrade a consumer’s ability to access any lawful Internet content, application, or service; will protect my right to attach any device for use with a broadband connection,; will ensure that phone and cable companies cannot favor themselves or affiliated parties to the detriment of other broadband competitors, innovators, and independent entrepreneurs; and it will prohibit the broadband Internet providers from charging extra fees and warping the web in a multi-tiered network of bandwidth haves and have-nots.
Therefore, I join as a citizen co-sponsor of the Markey Amendment to save the Internet as we know it.
We couldn’t have said it better ourselves. . . Sign on as soon as you can.
April 26th, 2006 at 10:43 am
Thank you for taking the time to contact me concerning Internet neutrality.
Like you, I recognize the importance of making broadband Internet available to all of Minnesota through fair and open competition.
On February 7, 2006, the Senate Commerce Committee held a hearing on Internet neutrality. Broadband providers, as well as application and content providers and telecommunications, experts testified before the Committee. At the hearing, broadband providers argued against Internet neutrality contending that application and content providers need to also assume the costs associated with providing broadband access. Application and content providers meanwhile advocated for Internet neutrality claiming that such neutrality enables consumers not broadband providers to choose among the various Internet content and application offerings.
Separately, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has issued Internet neutrality principles. The FCC does not believe that regulations are currently necessary.
Please know that I will continue to follow this important issue and look forward to reviewing the Committee’s work. I value your advice and will take it into consideration should any Internet neutrality related legislation come before the full Senate for a vote.
As a member of the Republican High-Tech Task force, I have been working closely on broadband related issues. For instance I introduced the Rural Renaissance II Act of 2005 (S. 1253) to support rural economic development. This bill would provide rural America loans and grants to rebuild and update its infrastructure, including high speed Internet, which is necessary to attract new residents and businesses. This legislation is now included in the Senate’s version of the Tax Relief Act of 2005 bill, which the Senate passed on November 18, 2005, and is in a conference committee with the House of Representatives.
You may also be interested to know that I am also a cosponsor of S. 1294, the Community Broadband Act of 2005. This legislation would allow municipalities to offer Internet broadband services, so long as they abide by state and federal telecommunications laws and do not discriminate against private competitors. S. 1294 has been referred to the Commerce Committee where it awaits further action.
I appreciate hearing from you and hope you will not hesitate to contact me on any issue of concern to you.
Sincerely,
Norm Coleman
United States Senate
April 26th, 2006 at 3:22 pm
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