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Legislation Would Prohibit ISPs From Throttling Online Video Services

Posted by Soulskill on from the net-neutrality-limps-into-the-barn dept.

Dega704 sends this story from Ars: "A Senate bill called the 'Consumer Choice in Online Video Act' (PDF) takes aim at many of the tactics Internet service providers can use to overcharge customers and degrade the quality of rival online video services. Submitted yesterday by U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), the 63-page bill provides a comprehensive look at the potential ways in which ISPs can limit consumer choice, and it boots the Federal Communications Commission's power to prevent bad outcomes. 'It shall be unlawful for a designated Internet service provider to engage in unfair methods of competition or unfair or deceptive acts or practices, the purpose or effect of which are to hinder significantly or to prevent an online video distributor from providing video programming to a consumer,' the bill states. A little more specifically, it would be illegal to 'block, degrade, or otherwise impair any content provided by an online video distributor' or 'provide benefits in the transmission of the video content of any company affiliated with the Internet service provider through specialized services or other means.' Those provisions overlap a bit with the FCC's authority under its own net neutrality law, the Open Internet Order, which already prevents the blockage of websites and services. However, Verizon is in court attempting to kill that law, and there is a real possibility that it could be limited in some way. The Consumer Choice in Online Video Act could provide a hedge against that possible outcome."

1 of 222 comments (clear)

  1. false equivalence by globaljustin · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Too many Dems are in bed with Hollywood and too many Repubs will scream about...

    anything

    FTFY

    Repubs will scream about *anything* end of story.

    You are dead wrong about "Hollywood's" opposition to this bill. It is the copyright organizations, not filmmakers who lobby against this.

    This is a good bill. Just accept it. Just b/c its not perfect doesn't mean it should go forward.

    Democrats *will* vote for it. Enough GOP'ers might let it pass the House.

    That's my challenge. Watch this bill. Watch ***ANY BILL*** and it is always GOP obstructionists.

    Overall, this is a step in the right direction.

    --
    Thank you Dave Raggett