WYDEN SEEKS EQUAL TREATMENT IN NET NEUTRALITY BILL

摘要

A bill introduced by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) seeks equal treatment for content providers, prohibits network operators from blocking access and prohibits them from charging businesses for faster delivery of services. 揟his bill is for consumers, innovators and small business. It抯 all about equal access for everyone,?Wyden said in a conference call with reporters. The bill calls for a 搕ransparent?system that would require Internet content and applications companies to make consumers aware of the rates, terms and conditions of Internet service. The bill would outlaw creation of a 損riority lane,?in which content providers could buy quicker access to customers while those who don抰 pay the fee are in the 搒low lane.?It also would allow consumers to choose which devices they use to connect to the Internet and ensure nondiscriminatory access. nnReactions were mixed. Progress & Freedom Foundation Pres. Ray Gifford said it would harm consumers by discouraging network buildout and possibly driving away new entrants to the broadband platform market. Consumers also might suffer by having fewer choices of speed and bundling of services, he said. Public Knowledge Pres. Gigi Sohn said the legislation would 損reserve the open character of the Internet.?The Internet has thrived because networks haven抰 been able to 損ick and choose which content, applications and service to carry and to give preferential treatment to others,?Sohn said: 揘ow we are in an uncertain time when network operators are threatening to impose new conditions on the high-speed broadband network. We can抰 allow that to happen.?/font>