[Commentary] Congress could make itself useful on the issue of network neutrality by finally passing legislation. In spring 2006, access providers lobbied hard for a bill that would allow them to offer "tiered" service to different content providers. They lost that fight, mainly because the Democrats swept Congress that fall, but Net Neutrality remains a nebulous legal and ethical term. Unfortunately, the deeper the Internet becomes ingrained in our daily lives, the more this murkiness is going to cost us. President-elect Barack Obama has repeatedly voiced his enthusiasm for the concept of Net Neutrality, and there is a tremendous grassroots movement online that has continued lobbying for some form of legislation. 2009 is the year for Congress to take care of this vital piece of unfinished business.
