GOP Congressman Introduces Bill To Reinstate Net Neutrality Rules (theverge.com)

Rep. Mike Coffman (R-CO) today announced his support for a bill that would institute the basic outlines of the FCC's 2015 Open Internet order, which banned the throttling and blocking of content as well as harmful paid prioritization practices. He is also the first Republican to sign on to the Democrat-led discharge petition, which aims to force a vote on the House floor to roll back the FCC's December decision to repeal net neutrality. The Verge reports: The 21st Century Internet Act aims to restructure the current framework by which the internet has been governed since the '90s. Coffman's bill moves past this argument by amending the 1934 Telecommunications Act and adding the new Title VIII. This new classification would "permanently codify into law the 'four corners' of net neutrality" by banning providers from controlling traffic quality and speed and forbidding them from participating in paid prioritization programs or charging access fees from edge providers.

On top of providing stable ground for net neutrality rules to be upheld in the future, the legislation also makes it illegal for providers to participate in "unfair or deceptive acts or practices." It directs the FCC to investigate claims of anticompetitive behavior on behalf of consumers after receiving their complaints. Transparency requirements are heightened for providers as well, as companies must publicly disclose information regarding their network practices to allow consumers to "make informed choices regarding use of such services."

Comments

Re:Hey look

[geek]

Yep. All the hissy fits from people the last two years has been annoying. Here's a tip, rather than pass executive orders left and right and try to govern like a fucking monarchy, try following the system and pass some fucking laws properly for a change.

Re: The GOP always stands against the people.

[Type44Q]

Now there's a new one... why didn't you anti-NN shills use that line when they were scraping the bottom of the barrel for disinfo/propaganda ideas??

Oh, wait; I know: because it's fucking retarded.

Re:The GOP always stands against the people.

[MoralCharacter]

Funny, the most common thing I hear about problems competing when it comes to the 'small guys' is the 'big guys' pushing them out with every dirty trick they can think of.

Following some ground rules for being fair to your customers is probably far easier compared to competing with incumbent big name ISPs. Besides, I bet small ISPs don't do enough business to make screwing over customers a valid business strategy. I fail to see how it'd be overly demanding of a small company to expect them to provide their advertised speed and service quality, to not demand they pay extra to use certain websites, etc.

No, I think the companies that stand to lose the most are big ISPs. Perhaps they should have dealt more honestly with the American people and we wouldn't need to legislate them into behaving.

Re:The GOP always stands against the people.

[jythie]

Since the 90s I've seen my options for broadband providers go from dozens to 2. So yeah, far fewer options.

Re: The GOP always stands against the people.

[Anonymous Coward]

Your own argument is self defeating. The Satellite company (DirecTV) is owned by At&t, as is the DSL and cell services you mention. That's half of your options under one company. Plus, where I live (60 miles from DC) there is no fiber option, and satellite is too inconsistent + doesn't support VPN connections, DSL is too slow to be true Broadband, and cell services have data caps to make it not useful for home use. Guess what, in reality I only have 1 option, Comcast Cable, to get actually Broadband internet.

Re:His turn

[kaoshin]

This isn't the first time this congressman has taken this position. He also stepped up to try and delay a time sensitive NN vote citing "unanticipated negative consequences". Those weren't the actions of a poser. If you genuinely cared about this issue more than silly partisanship, you wouldn't be making accusations like this against someone who is clearly sympathetic to the NN cause. The GOP has not been on the right side of this issue, but attacking any of them regardless of what they do (right or wrong) is both typical and sad.

Re:The GOP always stands against the people.

[Darinbob]

Back when DSL was the main option for those without cable, there were lots of DSL providers all sharing the same physical copper lines. It would be great if congress would declare that cable company cables were common carriers so we could get some real competition again

Re: Hey look

[MachineShedFred]

Never forget that elections have consequences, and the consequences of the Democratic ramming through of the ACA was handing the speaker's gavel to the GOP and a whole bunch of Tea Party douches being given an outsized influence over budget bills and "social issues" that the government shouldn't be within 200 miles of. The consequences of the administration attempting to usurp power from a gridlocked Congress by way of signing statements and executive orders / memos is the Senate and the White House being given to the GOP. And now we end up with a steaming heap of douche at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue.

Mitch McConnell may be an obstructionist jackass, but don't forget the obstructionism of Harry Reid - NEITHER of these guys would work with the other to craft legislation the country needed, in favor of pounding each other through sound bites on cable news and horse shit headlines on Drudge and The Huffington Post. They are / were both more concerned with holding on to a majority and squeaking in unpopular riders onto first-class legislation in order to advance a massively partisan agenda, or be a poison pill to block the other party from getting a win at all costs.

Remember the 1980s when we had a "reactionary GOP president" (who looks more and more like a moderate Democrat each day in comparison to today's GOP), and a DNC-controlled House, but shit still got done? That's because the cameras turned off and they could sit down and talk, and work out compromises that moved the country forward. Today everyone is so afraid that if they try to compromise even a little, it turns into a hashtag internet meme that a primary challenger will beat them to death with from their own party's flank, and the seat goes to some even-more-extreme shithead who thinks running for Congress (and taking fat checks from monies special interests) is a good gig, not because they actually have any good ideas or burning desire to make a difference.

Moderates are an endangered species on Capitol Hill, and they are the most effective legislators. I might be a bit cynical though.

Fool me once

[rsilvergun]

shame on you, fool me twice... you can't... you can't fool me again.

Seriously though, I'd like to make the point that while the Democratic Party has a wing that refuses corporate PAC money forget a wing, I don't know of a single GOP politician who does.

I'm not saying it's impossible, but actions speak louder than words. The Republican party have done a lot of bad to me and mine. They're currently working on eliminating the protections for pre-existing conditions for Obamacare and argue that we should end Social Security & Medicare for people under 55 (they're careful not to piss off their base of older voters until it's too late). Their tax cut is causing out of control inflation and interest rate hikes. They just repealed Dodd-Frank (albeit with the help of several right wing Democrats). They cut funding to my kid's schools. They tried to take away my Type-I diabetic buddies insulin for christ's sake (seriously, I'm not even exaggerating here, the ACA and Obama made them back down when he threatened to pull Medicare for the old folks in my red state). I can go on and on.

When I see real, positive actions from them I'll give credit where it's due. But after 40 years of policy that has a demonstratively negative impact on my life you'll forgive me if I'm just a wee bit distrustful.