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| Wilson Co-sponsors Net Neutrality Amendment |
June 07, 2006 |
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Bipartisan Effort to Assure Future Internet Access
Washington, DC – Congresswoman Heather Wilson announced today her co-sponsorship of a bipartisan net neutrality amendment offered by House Judiciary Chairman James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and Congressman Rick Boucher (D-VA) to the Communications Opportunity, Promotion and Enhancement Act of 2006, which is expected to be considered on the House floor this week.
The Sensenbrenner/Boucher/Wilson amendment will assure that the companies that control the network that the Internet flows through do not abuse their market power to discriminate against content providers.
"The companies that control the pipes for the Internet should not be able to control the speed and priority of data so that Web sites that pay a fee get their content delivered faster than others," Wilson said. "That would stifle innovation and create a two-tier Internet – fast for companies that pay to play and slow for everyone else."
The bipartisan amendment establishes an antitrust remedy under the Clayton Act for anticompetitive and discriminatory practices by broadband service providers. The amendment expressly permits a broadband network provider to take steps to manage the functioning and security of its network, to give priority to emergency communications, and to take steps to prevent violations of Federal and State law, or to comply with a court order.
The amendment would also allow for an expedited administrative process to resolve complaints alleging violations of the new section of the Clayton Act. Finally, the amendment would also clarify that both the Federal Communications Commission and Federal Trade Commission have authority to enforce the new section via administrative proceedings and specify which agency has lead jurisdiction over various types of complaints.
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