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Net Neutrality Still Lives

Posted by kdawson on from the not-dead-yet dept.

BuhDuh writes "Despite previous reports, and as subsequently discussed here, it appears that Sen. Feinstein's amendment (PDF) did not make it into the approved 'HR1' version of the stimulus bill (PDF). Of course, I cannot aver to having read all 680 pages, but searching for the terms Ms. Feinstein used came up blank, so it looks like we can breathe a collective sigh of relief until someone tries to bury similar proposals in the next wide-ranging, must-pass piece of legislation."

7 of 102 comments (clear)

  1. This news by MRe_nl · · Score: 4, Informative

    Not so new...

    "I just called Feinstein's office and..." (Score:1)
    by rev_deaconballs (1071074) on Wednesday February 11, @10:37PM (#26819353)
    "It did not make it into the congress revision."

    --
    "Kill 'em all and let Root sort 'em out"
    1. Re:This news by cemulli · · Score: 4, Informative

      As the weirdo who's actually obsessively following the actual progress of the bill text, February 11th was after it didn't get into the Senate version. Feinstein was still trying to get it into the final version when the Senate and House met to work out a compromise to get the REAL final version of the bill done so they could vote on it and send it to Obama. The meeting finished late last night on 2/13. I haven't been able to find the updated bill text *anywhere*, so I was happy as hell when I saw this posting. Until I scrolled down to the next to last page and saw that the PDF was the version from when the House passed the initial pre-Senate version on 1/28. So yeah, the lack of Feinstein language in that PDF means nothing. The reason there wouldn't be any Feinstein language in that version of the bill was because that's the version from BEFORE the Senate got their hands on it.

  2. It's actually in the bill. by DragonTHC · · Score: 5, Informative

    from page 656 of the stimulus bill

    10 (e) GRANT REQUIREMENTS.--The NTIA shall--
    11 (1) adopt rules to protect against unjust enrich12
    ment; and
    13 (2) ensure that grant recipients--
    14 (A) meet buildout requirements;
    15 (B) maximize use of the supported infra16
    structure by the public;
    17 (C) operate basic and advanced broadband
    18 service networks on an open access basis;
    19 (D) operate advanced wireless broadband
    20 service on a wireless open access basis; and
    21 (E) adhere to the principles contained in
    22 the Federal Communications Commission's
    23 broadband policy statement (FCC 05-151,
    24 adopted August 5, 2005).

    all broadband stimulus grants will be subject to network neutrality.

    --
    They're using their grammar skills there.
  3. Re:Read the bills! by jcnnghm · · Score: 4, Informative

    The bill wasn't 600 pages, it was 1,073. The Democrats initially promised that it would be made available online for at least 48 hours before it was voted on, however, they lied, and voted on it less than 12 hours after it was presented to the Representatives. To read the bill, it would have required reading about two and a half pages a minute from the time they received the bill until the vote. The bottom line is, the Democrats rushed it through so nobody would have a chance to read it.

    --
    You don't make the poor richer by making the rich poorer. - Winston Churchill
  4. Net Neutrality Safe? Maybe Not... by Dreadneck · · Score: 4, Informative

    (beginning on page 664 and continuing to page 665 of the stimulus bill)

    SEC. 6003. NATIONAL BROADBAND PLAN.

    (a) REPORT REQUIRED.- Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, the Federal Communications Commission shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, a report containing a national broadband plan.

    b) CONTENTS OF PLAN.-The national broadband 23 plan required by this section shall seek to ensure that all 24 people of the United States have access to broadband capability and shall establish benchmarks for meeting that goal. The plan shall also include-

    (1) an analysis of the most effective and efficient mechanisms for ensuring broadband access by all people of the United States;

    (2) a detailed strategy for achieving affordability of such service and maximum utilization of broadband infrastructure and service by the public; and

    (3) a plan for use of broadband infrastructure and services in advancing consumer welfare, civic participation, public safety and homeland security, community development, health care delivery, energy independence and efficiency, education, worker training, private sector investment, entrepreneurial activity, job creation and economic growth, and other national purposes.

    -----

    It seems to me that part (3) is broadly and vaguely worded, but given the terminology used it seems they are going to delay the attempt at killing network neutrality and possibly try to bring in through the backdoor by way of the NTIA and FCC.

    Why bother with the public scrutiny of the legislative process when you can accomplish it by fiat via the bureaucracy?

    --
    Power does not corrupt - power attracts the corrupt.
  5. I called too... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    And the person who answered the phone knew EXACTLY what I was talking about. Even when I made it clear that the network policy I had read about related to network neutrality and had nothign to do with "funding broadband" or whatever. She was familiar with the issue and said she would forward it on. She also asked for my zip code.

    (She also admitted directly by the way when I asked "is this true?" that Feinstein was trying to get it into the bill.)

  6. Don't breathe yet, this ISN'T the final version. by cemulli · · Score: 3, Informative

    Sorry guys, no fly. Try gpoaccess.gov instead - the new version isn't listed there yet either. They just agreed on a final version late last night (2/13), and that version ain't it. The linked PDF file is signed at the bottom. That's the version that the House passed on January 28th (open access language + semi-codification of the FCC internet policy statement) which is different from the version that the Senate passed on February 10th.