"Internet companies and consumer groups calling for a new U.S. law that would prohibit broadband providers from blocking or degrading some connections lost a major battle this week when a U.S. House of Representatives committee voted down such a provision.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee, during debate on a telecommunications reform bill, rejected an amendment that would write so-called net neutrality provisions into U.S. law. Backers of a net neutrality law want Congress to prohibit U.S. broadband providers from blocking or slowing their customers' connections to Web sites or services that compete with services offered by the providers. . .

Internet companies including Google and Yahoo, as well as organizations such as the Gun Owners of America, the National Religious Broadcasters, liberal group MoveOn.org, and the Consumers Federation of America, have called for a strong net neutrality law. Backers of a strong net neutrality law say it's needed after the FCC last August deregulated DSL providers, allowing them to no longer share their lines with competitors."

This entry was posted by Geoff, on Thursday, April 27, 2006. You can leave your response.