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The text (.pdf) of the Markey Network Neutrality Amendment, which was introduced in the House Telecom & Internet Subcommittee and defeated, in the Commerce Committee and defeated, and will be introduced ON THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE, PROBABLY ON THURSDAY, MAY 4, is straightforward. In part, it says,

Each broadband network provider has the duty—
(1) not to block, impair, degrade, discriminate against, or interfere with the ability of any person to use a broadband connection to access, use, send, receive, or offer lawful content, applications, or services over the Internet . . .

Sure it will be difficult to make effective enforcement rules -- the ILECs and Cablecos will fight this every step of the way. The FCC (which would make the rules) will have its hands full. But it is so much better than the current Barton compromise, which does not protect content from discrimination, does not give the FCC power to make rules, and does not specify what happens if the FCC decides that an incident is not a violation of the Principles. (They're the watered down Martin principles, not the stronger ones of the Powell FCC, anyway.)

Now that I've read the Amendment, I've added my name to the citizens who don't support the Barton-Rush COPE Bill without the Markey Amendment. Please consider doing the same.

If you need more, see this video (from any browser) of Markey explaining his Amendment.

Here's Public Knowledge's video on Network Neutrality, also watchable from any browser, also well worth two minutes of your time, if only to help you explain to your mother or son or neighbor what's going on.

Where were you when the DMCA was passed? Myself, I kinda slept through it, now I regret that course of inaction.

Here comes a BAD LAW and you can oppose it, maybe even make it better. You want the Internet to be 57 Billion URLs with Nothing On? OK, then act.

Technorati Tags: F2C, Internet, NetworkNeutrality