Third Time the Charm for Net Neutrality?

After two failed attempts, Congressman Ed Markey is bringing a bill for net neutrality before a third successive congress.

Ed Markey, Democratic Congressman for Massachusetts, has introduced a bill ensuring net neutrality to the House of Representatives.

The bill, entitled the ‘Internet Freedom Preservation Act of 2009’, aims to “amend the Communications Act of 1934 to establish a national broadband policy, safeguard consumer rights,spur investment and innovation, and for related purposes.”

“The internet has thrived and revolutionized business and the economy precisely because it started as an open technology,” said co-sponsor Anna Eshoo, the Democratic Representaive for California. “This bill will ensure that the non-discriminatory framework that allows the internet to thrive and competition on the Web to flourish is preserved at a time when our economy needs it the most.”

The bill will essentially prevent ISPs from charging fees to content providers beyond those already incurred by moving data around and would grant the FCC the power to create and enforce rules pertaining to network traffic.

This is the third time that Markey has tried to introduce such legislation, and although he has been unsuccessful in his previous attempts, a new President and a new FCC chairperson, both of whom seem sympathetic to the idea, may mean that it’ll be third time lucky for net neutrality.

Source: Ars Technica