Senate Panel Defeats Net Neutrality

[cal04]

The Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday rejected a network neutrality amendment, handing cable and phone broadband access providers yet another victory over a coalition that has demanded the application of strict nondiscrimination standards against entities that control access to millions of Internet users.

The panel voted 11 to 11 to defeat an amendment sponsored by Sens. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) and Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), who had backing from Google, Yahoo!, eBay, Amazon, Microsoft and other firms that deliver voice, video, and information services and applications.

Under Senate rules, a tie vote means the amendment failed.

Snowe said the amendment was necessary to protect Internet innovation and investment that she said are threatened by anti-competitive designs by cable and phone companies.

http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6348259.html?display=Breaking+News

[Robbien]

1. All Democrats except Ben Nelson of Nebraska voted for Net Neutrality

Now tell me again why a GOP-lite DLCer is better than a Republican? Republican Olympia Snowe of Maine voted for Net Neutrality.

[napi21]

5. That was a trade off vote. It doesn't matter! What matters is that

the Pubs in there now are against US and for ONLY the Business comnmunity!!!!!

I suggest we all write AGAIN to our Senators and Representatives and tell them what WE THE PEOPLE want! Unfortunately, neither of my Sens or my Rep is up for election this year, so I have a bit less leverage that those whose are, but I'm going to write them AGAIN to vote against this measure when it comes to the floor.

[Idioteque]

11. I read on Digg that all Dems including Nelson voted for neutrality

And Snowe was the the only Repub crossover, making it 11 to 11.

Ben Nelson isn't even on the committee. Bill is, and he voted AYE.

[Robbien]

12. Okay, the article I was reading was on the Net Build Out

which stated Ben Nelsen voted against it while Snowe voted with the Democrats
Panel Nixes Build-Out Amendment
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-TGSU1151523448904.html

Since both amendments favor the telcos I got the two mixed up.

[Omaha Steve]

23. Nelson voted BOTH ways (moveon.org)

Dear Steven,

The good news is that your senator, Ben Nelson, voted for the Snowe/Dorgan Internet freedom amendment this week in a key committee—taking on giant corporations like AT&T that want to put tollbooths on the Internet.

The bad news is the 11-11 tie meant we were one vote shy of changing the underlying bill that currently is written to gut Net Neutrality. Your senator then cast the wrong vote and supported this horrendous bill anyway—a blow to Internet freedom.

Now, the battle goes to the full Senate. We need every senator to show courage and vote CONSISTENTLY for Net Neutrality.

Please call Sen. Nelson today to say thanks for supporting the Snowe-Dorgan Net Neutrality proposal—but that it was wrong to vote for the underlying "Stevens bill" that guts Net Neutrality. Ask him to consistently oppose any bill in the full Senate that doesn't protect Net Neutrality. Here is the number:

Senator Ben Nelson
Phone: [phone]

Please click here to let us know you called and to share how it went:

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=1885&tg=FSNE_2&cp_id=344&id=8161-3297678-qythoBSnj9NYZgTCq7.k.A&t=2

After you call your senator's Washington, D.C. office, you can also call your local district office by clicking the above link. If you get voicemail, you can leave a message—they will get it.

After Wednesday's vote, Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon took to the Senate floor to announce that he might launch a filibuster against any bill that guts Net Neutrality (see video below). If opponents of Internet freedom insist on gutting Net Neutrality, we will need other Senators to stand by Wyden. This could take big political courage, and your call will help inspire your senator to do the right thing.

Thanks for keeping the pressure on Congress as we fight to save the Internet.

–Eli Pariser, Adam Green, Noah T. Winer, and the MoveOn.org Civic Action team
Friday, June 30th, 2006


Sources:

1. Links pertaining to Wednesday's vote:

Video: Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) threatens to "block" anti-Net Neutraity legislation on Senate floor, June 28, 2006
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=1913&id=8161-3297678-qythoBSnj9NYZgTCq7.k.A&t=3

"'Net neutrality' battle may sink sweeping telecommunications reform bill," USA Today, July 29, 2006 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=1911&id=8161-3297678-qythoBSnj9NYZgTCq7.k.A&t=4

"Net Neutrality Issue Holding Back Broad Telecom Legislation," Investor's Business Daily, June 28, 2006
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=1912&id=8161-3297678-qythoBSnj9NYZgTCq7.k.A&t=5

2. Articles about the Net Neutrality issue:

"Net Losses," New Yorker, March 20, 2006
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=1646 ;

"Why You Should Care About Net Neutrality," Slate—Prof. Tim Wu Guest Column, May 1, 2006
http://www.slate.com/id/2140850/ ;

"Executive Wants to Charge for Web Speed," Washington Post, December 1, 2005
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=1902&id=8161-3297678-qythoBSnj9NYZgTCq7.k.A&t=6

How Net Neutrality affects you
http://www.savetheinternet.com/=threat



Your senator, Ben Nelson, voted FOR Internet freedom this week in a key committee before voting AGAINST it.

Please call Sen. Nelson today—urge CONSISTENT support for Net Neutrality when this issue soon goes before the full Senate.

Senator Ben Nelson
Phone: [phone]

[Totally Committed]

2. We are doomed...

They are bound and determined to take this tool away from the Left before the next national elections. It was our last weapon in the fight for fairness in information.

TC

[Copperred]

17. This is incredibly dangerous.

[Sapere aude]

3. Hopefully there will be an alternative to cable and phone companies

Satellite anyone? I like my satellite TV, maybe for a reasonable charge I could get internet hookup with it. Of course I am not technically inclined so I can't say I understand all of this.

[tbyg52]

6. As I understand it....

Control over your connection at the receiving end isn't the issue, I think. The issue is that on the serving end, bits should be bits. Discrimination based on content should not be allowed. Everyone should be charged the same for the same amount of bits over the same speed connection. (Have I got it right? There seems to be a dearth of clear explanations on this--all I really know is that if I have to pick between the positions of Google and AT&T, I pick Google, in spite of disapproving of their current China policy.)

[Canuckistanian]

14. Yes, this is about charging content providers extra money

You can pay the telco to get on their high-speed "fast lane" or you can be routed through a lower speed line if you don't pay up.

And you KNOW that "slow lane" is going to be a nightmare of low speeds, dropped connections and 404 "page not found" errors.

[tbyg52]

4. It's getting pretty bad....

...when even big business can't defeat bigger business. :-(

[endarkenment]

7. Actually that is a small ray of hope.

The corrupt mess in DC becoming dysfunctional to significant segments of the corporate realm could lead to their support for real progressive reform that returns some semblance of neutrality and playing field leveling to the system.

[Eric J in MN]

15. Even with Google and Microsoft on our side, half the Senators

still bow down before AT&T.

[Imalittleteapot]

8. Yet another shameful display in the Senate.

[onenote]

9. it probably signals that the legislation won't be enacted this year

Its still possible that telecom legislation could make it through the entire process, but there's not a lot of time left and if the Democrats stay united on this, they have the ability to block the bill from moving forward in the Senate. The bill in the Senate is much different than the one passed by the House and it may be tough to forge a conference compromise even if the Senate is able to move a bill.

[Sherman A1]

10. Well Said

After all we must work on the wedge issues right now. This one might have to wait until after the election is stolen in a few months. You know the boys can only do so much and this work is really hard! Time for a raise!

[Eric J in MN]

13. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) is our last hope.

From
http://www.oregonlive.com/search/index.ssf?/base/editorial/1151114123112840.xml?oregonian?yedcds&coll=7

Sometime this week, the Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee, like a lot of folks organizing their desk, will get to work on their phone bill. Sometime after that, after sorting through about 100 proposed amendments, the committee will send a giant bill overhauling U.S. telecommunications law to the Senate floor.

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore, will be waiting.

If it doesn't fit his main concern, says Wyden, "I will do anything I can to block a major telecom rewrite that undermines what makes the Internet special. I will block it. I will do anything I can to derail it.

If Wyden filibusters the bill and at 40 Senators support him, then maybe we'll get a Telecommunications bill with Net Neutrality after the 2006 election.

[Pierre.Suave]

16. Just one more reason

to run a challenger in the primaries. If the current dem is not representing you, vote for, adn support, someone else in the primary.

[marmar]

18. How much more of this bullshit are we willing to take?

We have been sold out, completely. The corporate takeover of America is just about complete.

[Eric J in MN]

19. A lot more.

We have no choice.

The worst people in America control the House and the Senate.

[Omaha Steve]

20. I called Nelson's office yesterday (Tue) and then donated :-(

Ben's campaign person said Ben wanted to see the bill before making a commitment. I still have the voice mail she left me last week. I donated through Act Blue to him last night to beat the end of the month deadline. Labor backs him. The state party backs him.

Barb Boxer raised funds for him on her take back Congress page:http://www.actblue.com/page/pacforachange


I will vote for him vs Ricketts. But I don't think I will ever give cash to help him again ever.

I gave to all my state candidates and several around the country yesterday.

***************************
Your contribution:

Ben Nelson -- $11.00
ActBlue -- $0.55
Total: $11.55



Date: 27 Jun 2006
Reference #: AB00075685

****************************

[OneBlueSky]

21. can't the amendment be re-introduced when the bill . . .

is brought up for a vote on the Senate floor? . . . if that's possible, we need an all out campaign to convince individual senators why this is so important . . .

[Eric J in MN]

22. Phone your Senators to ask them to support the

upcoming filibuster by Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) who is trying to get Net Neutrality added to the telecommunications bill.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/6/28/20337/0262

PHONE LIST
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm