Released: June 08, 2006

‘Net neutrality slated for House vote

Source: By Susan Davis and Drew Clark, The National Journal

The full House will get a chance to debate and vote on the so-called network neutrality controversy later this week, as the House Rules Committee - which sets the guidelines for floor debates - announced late Wednesday that backers of stronger net neutrality provisions would be allowed to try to amend the pending telecom bill when it reaches the floor.

House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., earlier Wednesday had indicated that network neutrality amendments to the pending telecommunications overhaul bill - amendments authored by Judiciary Chairman James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., and Energy and Commerce Telecommunications and the Internet Subcommittee ranking member Edward Markey, D-Mass. - likely would be allowed a floor vote when the bill comes to the floor later this week.

“Yes, a piece of that will get a vote,” Hastert told reporters when asked about network neutrality language written by Sensenbrenner that is at odds with telecom legislation approved by the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

When pressed on the Sensenbrenner and Markey amendments - each of which is intended to prohibit the Bell telecommunications companies and cable TV companies from charging businesses to allow speedier Internet delivery to preferred customers - Hastert replied, “One of those amendments will be on the floor, if not both of them.” The Rules Committee later announced that the Markey amendment, but not the Sensenbrenner amendment, would be permitted during the floor debate.

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