Network neutrality amendment fails

The vote was tied: 11-11 in committee:

On Wednesday, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) voted against the Senate Commerce Committee’s sweeping revision of U.S. communications laws. Cantwell faulted the committee’s failure to pass a net neutrality amendment that would have established a principle of nondiscrimination when it comes to Internet content.

Cantwell voted against final committee passage of the bill citing concerns over net neutrality, the lack of build-out provisions for new video service providers, and the elimination of numerous consumer protections.

The committee passed the legislation on a 15-7 vote.

"Overall, consumers are the big losers with this bill. Protecting consumer rights should have been the first priority, but sadly, this bill doesn’t meet the mark," said Cantwell, a member of the Senate Commerce Committee.

"We need a system that looks out for ordinary Americans, fosters innovation, and keeps our marketplace of ideas open to a broad range of diverse voices. We can’t risk allowing discriminatory practices that may stifle competition and restrict access. I’m going to continue fighting for a better bill that looks out for the interests of all Americans."

Along with Senators Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Byron Dorgan (D-ND), John Kerry (D-MA), and Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Cantwell cosponsored an amendment to the telecom bill that is based on the Snowe-Dorgan Internet Freedom Preservation Act (S. 2917) and would have ensured net neutrality. Today, they offered a narrower version of the legislation, which failed on a tie vote.

In a win for media diversity, the committee did accept a measure introduced by Senators Cantwell and John McCain (R-AZ) based on their Local Community Radio Act (S.312). This legislation would implement the recommendations of an FCC report on low-power FM radio stations.

These stations, with a broadcast range of about 3.5 miles, provide an affordable alternative to community groups unable to obtain expensive full-power radio station licenses on very scarce broadcast spectrum.

The FCC created this new classification of stations in 2000, but Congress later rolled back the Commission’s ruling with a rider to an appropriations bill. The McCain-Cantwell amendment would repeal this rider, allowing local community stations to flourish.

"Right now, Washington has about 15 licensed low-power FM licensed stations," said Cantwell. "With about 18 in Oregon and ten in Alaska, these stations provide a valuable, independent voice to schools, community groups, and others during a time of mass media consolidation and concentrated media markets."

"We need to make it easier for these stations to thrive. Originally, 68 groups in Washington state applied for low-power stations, but most of these were denied because of a law we don’t need."

Kudos to all the Democrats on the Commerce Committee for standing up in favor of Net Neutrality.