Markey Bill Focuses On Internet Market Data
FCC Would Have Year To Gauge Web Competition Issues
By Ted Hearn -- Multichannel News, 2/12/2008 6:38:00 PM
Washington – A bill sponsored by Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) would give the Federal Communications Commission one year to study a range of Internet-related competition issues and conduct at least eight “public broadband summits” for some face-to-face contact with the nation’s legions of Web surfers.
According to a draft of the bill obtained by Multichannel News Tuesday, Markey and co-sponsor Rep. Chip Pickering (R-Miss.) would put a premium on market-data collection. The measure would not require the FCC to adopt regulations. The agency would need to file a report due 90 days after holding the last broadband summit.
Markey, chairman of the House Telecommunications and the Internet Subcommittee, has named the bill the Internet Freedom Preservation Act of 2008. He is likely to introduce the bill on Wednesday, his press secretary said Tuesday.
The eight-page bill’s preamble contains strong language in support of network neutrality principles but that’s as far the bill goes. The bill, if it became law, would not authorize the FCC to regulate cable, phone and other broadband access providers.
"The introduction of this legislation gives hope to the millions of Americans who want the public -- not phone and cable companies -- in control of the Internet," said Timothy Karr, campaign director of Free Press, which coordinates the SavetheInternet.com Coalition.
In 2006, Markey lost a fight on the House floor over his amendment that would have forced the FCC to regulate broadband providers to ensure they didn’t discriminate against web-based providers of voice, video and data services as well as software applications.
