'Net Neutrality' Seems Likely To Get House Floor Vote

'NET NEUTRALITY' SEEMS LIKELY TO GET HOUSE FLOOR VOTE
[SOURCE: Technology Daily, AUTHOR: Susan Davis and Drew Clark]
House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) indicated that so-called network neutrality amendments to the pending telecommunications overhaul bill -- amendments authored by Judiciary Chairman James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and Commerce Telecommunications and the Internet Subcommittee ranking member Edward Markey (D-MA) -- likely will be allowed a floor vote when the bill comes to the floor later this week. "Yes, a piece of that will get a vote," Speaker Hastert told reporters when asked about network neutrality language written by Rep Sensenbrenner that is at odds with telecom legislation approved by the House Commerce Committee. When pressed on the Sensenbrenner and Markey amendments -- each of which is intended to prohibit the Bell telecommunications companies and cable TV companies from charging businesses to allow speedier Internet delivery to preferred customers -- Rep Hastert replied, "One of those amendments will be on the floor, if not both of them." House Commerce Chairman Joe Barton (R-TX), who has engaged in a turf war with Chairman Sensenbrenner over the telecom overhaul legislation, clearly was not pleased with the prospect of allowing floor votes on the net neutrality amendments -- and remained hopeful they would be blocked in the House Rules Committee, which sets the guidelines for floor debates. "We are in discussions with the leadership and the stakeholders on what amendments, if any, will be made in order, but I think it's safe to say that the Sensenbrenner-Markey forces have gotten a black eye every time they've tried to bring their ideas up," Rep Barton declared -- referring to the defeat of the Markey amendment when it was brought before the Commerce panel in late April.
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-VOCF1149712117408.html

* House plans Vote on Net Neutrality
http://news.com.com/House+plans+vote+on+Net+neutrality/2100-1028_3-60809...

* Diverse groups urge Rules Committee to permit net neutrality amendment
Expressing the views of more than 1 million Americans, 35 groups, including Common Cause, Free Press, Consumers Union, the American Library Association and the Christian Coalition, formally asked the House Rules Committee to permit House members to vote on amendments to preserve a free and open Internet.
http://www.commoncause.org/site/apps/nl/content2.asp?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=810...{706FAD88-D8D6-4F4C-9F91-4321373309C7}&notoc=1
http://www.commoncause.org/site/apps/nl/content2.asp?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=686...