S. 215 The Internet Freedom Preservation Act

Submitted by Benton Foundation on Wed, 01/10/2007 - 10:04
Last updated: Wed, 06/04/2008 - 13:49

Summary

On January 9, 2007, Senators Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) introduced legislation they say would ensure that Internet use -- by consumers, content providers, and businesses -- remains free from interference by broadband service providers. The Internet Freedom Preservation Act (S.215) aims to ensure that broadband service providers do not discriminate against Internet content, applications or services by offering preferential treatment. Some broadband providers have discussed plans to start acting like a gatekeeper on the previously open World Wide Web, capable of deciding which content can get through to consumers, and which content providers could get special deals, faster speeds, and better access to the consumer. (more from Dorgan-Snowe press release)

Read an analysis of the bill from Harold Feld.

Updates

* 1/9/2007 Referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

See a recap of coverage of the bill's introduction at http://www.benton.org/node/4452

Resources

Read the bill

* See who's contributing to Members of Congress who've voted on the bill. (MAPLight.org)

Supporters

Sponsors:

Byron Dorgan (D-ND)
Olympia Snowe (R-ME)
John Kerry (D-MA)
Barbara Boxer (D-CA)
Tom Harkin (D-IA)
Patrick Leahy (D-VT)
Hillary Clinton (D-NY)
Barack Obama (D-IL)
Bernard Sanders (I-VT) 1/12/07
Supporters:

* Free Press/Consumers Union/Consumer Federation of America
"We applaud Senators Dorgan and Snowe for reigniting the essential Net Neutrality debate on Capitol Hill. Their continuing commitment will help make competitive and affordable broadband services a central issue in the 110th Congress. Our elected officials now must act to keep the Internet free of gatekeepers who would destroy this revolutionary platform for free speech and economic innovation. The American public has an overwhelming interest in seeing this bill pass into law, ensuring that the online marketplace of ideas remains open and vibrant."
http://www.freepress.net/press/release.php?id=199

* Common Cause
"The Internet has revolutionized citizen engagement in their democracy," Pingree said. "Millions of Americans go online to get political news, to engage with candidates, campaigns, and to communicate with their elected leaders. This revolution was able to happen because of net neutrality, one of the Internet's longest standing principles. Net neutrality ensures that our Internet will remain open, free and competitive -- and must be preserved."

Detractors

* AT&T
"We continue to believe that net-neutrality regulations are unwarranted and remain hopeful that lawmakers will pivot their efforts toward support of a national priority to deploy more advanced broadband to more Americans more quickly."

* Verizon
"Net Neutrality - better named Net Regulation - is trying to solve a problem that doesn't exist."

* National Cable & Telecommunications Association
"We continue to believe that regulation of the Internet is unnecessary and will only stifle the investment, innovation and creativity that has been the hallmark of today's dynamic broadband marketplace."
http://www.ncta.com/ContentView.aspx?hidenavlink=true&type=reltyp2&conte...

* Hands Off the Internet
"It's disappointing that Sens. Snowe and Dorgan would introduce essentially the same bill to regulate the Internet that went down to such decisive defeat in Congress last June."

* FreedomWorks
"Common sense tells us that if it ain't broke don't fix it."

Date

January 10, 2007