A 'net neutrality' clause proposed for insertion into a
telecommunications bill was rejected by the narrowest possible
margin by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and
Transportation. The clause needed majority support for inclusion in
the bill but yesterday's vote was tied at 11 for and 11 against
inclusion.
The net neutrality clause could yet make it into the bill,
however. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that Democrat Senator
Ron Wyden issued a 'hold' on the bill, a technical procedure which
may stop the bill being discussed in the Senate until, in Wyden's
words, "it includes strong net neutrality provisions". It may also
be possible to re-introduce a net neutrality clause into the bill
at a later date.
The bill is the most wide ranging review of telecoms legislation
in the US since the mid 1990s and is designed to allow telcos to
deliver TV-like video services over the internet in competition
with cable companies.
Those telcos want to be able to prioritise their own digital
video services over other traffic, but others see that as a
precedent-setting move that could lead to web firms being held to
ransom by network-owning telcos.
Net neutrality advocates had a similar measure rejected by the
House of Representatives earlier this month in a vote that by and
large followed party lines, with Republicans voting against net
neutrality.
Though Wednesday's Committee meeting tied on the question of net
neutrality, it voted in favour of allowing the telecommunications
bill to proceed to a hearing by the whole Senate. A similar clause
could be debated by the whole Senate at that stage.
