Action on net neutrality legislation in the House has stalled after the chairman of the House Energy & Commerce committee failed to secure the support of the committee's top Republican.
“This legislative initiative was predicated on going forward only if we had full bipartisan support in our committee," Chairman Henry Waxman said in a Wednesday statement. “We included the Republican staff in our deliberations and made clear that we were prepared to introduce our compromise legislation if we received the backing of Ranking Member [Joe] Barton and Ranking Member [Cliff] Stearns."
Rep. Barton of Texas, however, “has informed me that support for this legislation will not be forthcoming at this time," Waxman said.
Waxman and fellow Democrat Rick Boucher of Virginia put together net neutrality legislation with four main components. It would: restore the FCC's power to regulate the Internet; prevent ISPs from engaging in unreasonable network management; prevent wireless broadband providers from blocking Web sites; and require the FCC to issue transparency regulations so consumers know exactly what they're getting from providers.
“Under this proposal, both sides would emerge as winners," Waxman said Wednesday. “Consumers would win protections that preserve the openness of the Internet, while the Internet service providers would receive relief from their fears of reclassification."
“This legislative initiative was predicated on going forward only if we had full bipartisan support in our committee," Chairman Henry Waxman said in a Wednesday statement. “We included the Republican staff in our deliberations and made clear that we were prepared to introduce our compromise legislation if we received the backing of Ranking Member [Joe] Barton and Ranking Member [Cliff] Stearns."
Rep. Barton of Texas, however, “has informed me that support for this legislation will not be forthcoming at this time," Waxman said.
Waxman and fellow Democrat Rick Boucher of Virginia put together net neutrality legislation with four main components. It would: restore the FCC's power to regulate the Internet; prevent ISPs from engaging in unreasonable network management; prevent wireless broadband providers from blocking Web sites; and require the FCC to issue transparency regulations so consumers know exactly what they're getting from providers.
“Under this proposal, both sides would emerge as winners," Waxman said Wednesday. “Consumers would win protections that preserve the openness of the Internet, while the Internet service providers would receive relief from their fears of reclassification."
