Markey offers Net neutrality compromise

As expected, Massachusetts Rep. Edward Markey, a Democrat, is once again taking a run at imposing Net neutrality rules, this time introducing a bill that stops short of imposing requirements on Internet service providers but suggesting principles instead.

The new measure, called the “Internet Freedom Preservation Act of 2008,” would add four new policy statements to the existing Federal Communications Commission’s broadband policy, but would not add enforcement or penalty provisions. It would require the FCC to conduct broadband service providers’ current behavior and practices and determine if more rules are needed.

Markey was able to convince Rep. Charles Pickering (R-Miss.) to co-sponsor the bill, despite Pickering’s past opposition to Net neutrality rules. But he hasn’t convinced USTelecom, the top lobbying group for telecom service providers, whose president and CEO, Walter McCormick, immediately expressed opposition to the bill.

“This legislation is antithetical to the Congressional innovation agenda goals of extending broadband’s reach, and speeding delivery of advanced applications that will improve the environment, personal security, education, and health care – particularly in rural area,” McCormick said in a statement. “It would blindly legislate a new national broadband policy, without regard to its implications, and then require the FCC to spend the next year determining whether the Internet is being constructed, managed, and operated in conformance with this new government mandate. We urge Congress to remain focused on its innovation agenda goal of encouraging broadband deployment and refrain from federal micro-management of the most dynamic and technologically sensitive sector of our nation’s economy.”

The Hands Off The Internet Coalition, a Washington lobbying group funded by telecom service providers, expressed “cautious optimism” that Markey’s bill doesn’t attempt to impose federal rules on ISPs and how they can design or market their services.

“On its face we agree with the concept of a study; Hands Off the Internet has always supported efforts to gather public opinion,” the coalition statement read. “However, we are concerned that an effort to seek public input is intended to be a stalking horse for federal Internet regulation. The continued push by special interests to regulate Internet neutrality undercuts the best hope Net users have for faster, more affordable broadband. Network innovation and deployment free from federal regulation are the keys to meet consumers’ rapidly growing bandwidth demands. More importantly efforts behind Net Neutrality regulations will create uncertainty for investors and internet service providers that must build the infrastructure to meet consumer demands.”

As part of its study, the FCC would conduct public meetings at “geographically diverse sites” to enable U.S. residents to comment on the current state of broadband availability and services.