Net Neutrality Is Defeated

By Turk on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 at 8:38 pm

Net NeutralityLegislationFor a change, calmer heads prevailed on Capitol Hill today and the net neutrality amendment advocated by the Save the Internet Coalition was soundly defeated 34-22.

For those who were hoping for a win, you really need to step back, now that it’s going to be a while before this comes up again, and think about what you are asking. I’d like you to go out and ask 20 different people what they think net neutrality means. I guarantee you you’ll probably get at least 19 different answers. You’ll also discover that trying to codify a concept as vague as net neutrality into law is a terrible idea.

What’s interesting about the left-leaning coalition that has been fighting this is the members would be largely opposed to regulating something as vaguely defined as “pornography”. They would argue that which you consider pornographic I may consider an artistic celebration of human sexuality. Yet that same concept is discarded in the net neutrality fight in favor of irrational fear over some ill-defined evil that may or may not ever come to pass.

Oh well. At least we don’t have to worry about it again for a while… until the Senate takes it up in a few weeks…

(Disclaimer: While I work for the National Cable and Telecommunications Association, this post should in no way be construed as an official position of the Association. Thoughts in this space are mine and mine alone and do not reflect the views of my employer.)

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Category: Government,Legislation,Net Neutrality,The Internet

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About The Quip

A psuedo-reformed political hack takes stock of his life, family, community, and living in our nation's capitol. If a good writer writes about what he knows, expect me to cover politics, technology, telecommunications, consumer gadgets, pop culture, the constant struggle that is parenting, the two best kids in the known world, the wife that makes me crazy, the odd moments I get to enjoy my hobbies, and a big goofy mutt named Kobi.