Internet giants suffer defeat in US Congress

SMH News | June 29, 2006

US Internet giants have suffered a defeat in the US Congress where an amendment on "Internet neutrality" was rejected by a Senate committee studying telecommunications reform.

Aimed at preventing network operators from charging an additional fee to websites seeking quicker and more effective connections for their users, the amendment failed Wednesday to gain a majority in the committee, which deadlocked 11-11.

However, the issue was to be examined by the Senate during its debate on telecommunications reform, the date for which has not been set.

Democratic Senator Byron Dorgan, one of the key promoters of "Internet neutrality," has vowed to continue his efforts.

"Any telecommunications legislation adopted by the Senate must preserve Internet freedom, and I will continue to press this issue with my colleagues as this measure moves to the floor for consideration," Dorgan said.

Opponents of the new usage toll -- predominantly the IT heavyweights -- demand nothing less than "Internet neutrality," where all traffic remains free in the spirit of democratic usage and access.

But telephone giants like Verizon, AT and T and cable TV provider Comcast argue that opponents of the fee are standing in the way of progress since the charges would cover faster Internet access, and are waging their own "hands off the Internet" campaign.

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