http://blogs.zdnet.com/ip-telephony/index.php?cat=3



March 2, 2006
Senator Wyden describes his 'net neutrality' bill- and we have the bill
here
Posted by Russell Shaw @ 11:20 am

Just got off a conference call with U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon).

Earlier today, Senator Wyden introduced the Internet Non-Discrimination
Act of 2006 - popularly called the Net Neutrality Act.

We have all 15 pages of this act posted in a Gallery. Here's the link.
http://news.zdnet.com/2300-1035_22-6045311-1.html


Before I include comments from the conference call, some basic facts
about the Act.

The Act's key principles include:

* Preventing interfering with, blocking, degrading, altering,
modifying or changing traffic on the Internet;
* Prohibiting creation of a priority lane where content providers
can buy quicker access to customers, while those who don’t pay the fee
are left in the slow lane;
* Allowing consumers to choose which devices they use to connect to
the Internet while they are on the Internet;
* Ensuring that consumers have non-discriminatory access and
service;
* Having a transparent system whereby consumers, Internet content,
and applications companies have access to the rates, terms, and
conditions for Internet service.

Here are some of Sen. Wyden's comments to journalists, including myself:

On the legislation's intent:

This legislation is designed to make sure the country doesn't face
an information superhighway strewn with discriminatory hurdles.

Communications companies like Verizon would change the nature of the
Internet. The Internet to me stands for equality stands for freedom, and
that equal content gets equal kind of treatment. What we do say you
cannot make equal content subject to discriminatory treatment.

On the argument that network service providers "built" the Internet
because of the expenses they incurred for construction and upkeep- and
have a right to charge extra for heavy users of their services;

(Consumers) are already paying to get access to bandwidth. You kind
of get the sense big network operators are saying we built he network we
own the network. What I am saying no, consumers built network
subscribers built the network, they paying for it.

On types of favoritism the Act would allow and prohibit:

My legislation is still going to allow the purchase of higher speed
for additional money just like overnight delivery at the post office.
But we are in favor of equal content. I am going to allow discriminatory
treatment. I am not going to allow a network operator to say a person
who buys on line for J.Crrew can stay on hold for five minutes, and
where they make the Banana Republic customer wait 30 minutes.

On the argument some are advancing that enacting net neutrality rules
will stifle capital investment in new and emerging Internet and
telecommunications technologies:

Discrimination is going to stifle the risk of innovation.

On the timing he sees for this legislation going forward:

The Senate is in a very fluid situation. This is a short year
because of the election, but a couple of decisions will be made in the
next few weeks. A large telecommunication package moves forward, and we
are going to try to make sure net neutrality to be part of that
legislation.

I then asked Senator Wyden a question about how the bill would protect
consumers against covert discrimination - such as server outages and
port blocking of content from sources that do not pay fees broadband
providers want.

We think we get at the hidden obstacles. There are provisions
against degrading or modifying traffic. There are scores of ways in
which network operators could find potential ways to make like difficult
for least favorite consumers.

There are a host of examples about stealth obstacles. Those stealth
barriers could be a problem. Hearings on the legislation will (discuss)
how to excavate and on cover as many as we can. A key provision that
says we can make sure (telecom providers) cannot block and degrade
traffic will be helpful.

Supporters of the Internet Non-Discrimination Act include nearly a dozen
consumer and technology interests including eBay-Skype, pulver.com and
Consumers Union. <!–[endif]–>