If there were vigorous competition among providers of high-speed Internet access, lawmakers could trust the market to find the right balance between preserving the Internet's openness and enabling network operators to experiment with new business models. Sadly, many parts of the country have only one or two providers of high-speed networks, and that's not enough to keep those providers honest.

That's why lawmakers should adopt "Net neutrality" rules, to preserve the open and nondiscriminatory nature of the Internet, which has been critical to innovation online. That innovation is an increasingly vital part of the U.S. economy.

Link Los Angeles Times

The following statement is attributable to Gigi B. Sohn, president of Public The following statement is attributable to Gigi B. Sohn, president of Public Knowledge:

"The merger of AT&T and BellSouth makes it imperative that the principles of Net Neutrality be included in any merger approval from government agencies and in any telecommunications legislation passed by Congress.

Background: Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today introduced the "Internet Non-Discrimination Act of 2006" to preserve the Net Neutrality principle of the Internet.

Public Knowledge President Gigi B. Sohn said the Wyden legislation "will preserve the open character of the Internet by preventing network operators from discriminating in favor of content, applications and services in which they have a financial interest."

Summary

A bill to ensure and promote a free and open Internet for all Americans.

The full text of the bill is available here.

Senator Ron Wyden, Democrat of Oregon, will introduce new legislation today that would prohibit Internet network operators from charging companies for faster delivery of their content to consumers or favoring some content providers over others.

Link By: Ken Belson, N.Y. Times

In this issue: Net Neutrality Enters Murky Legislative State; and WIPO Webcasting Treaty Debated

In this issue: We Finally Get to Testify — on Video Franchising; PK Issues Major Net Neutrality Study; Senate Panel Takes Up Net Neutrality

February 15, 2006: Public Knowledge President Gigi B. Sohn testified
before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science &
Transportation hearing on the subject of “Video Franchising”

Gigi B. Sohn, president of Public Knowledge, today endorsed allowing telephone companies to offer video programming under a "national franchise," if Congress also enacts a policy requiring "net neutrality."

A Public Knowledge White Paper
by John Windhausen, Jr.

• Executive Summary available as PDF.
• Full Paper available as PDF (without attachments).
• Full Paper available as Word DOC (without attachments).
• Attachments available as PDF.

Executive Summary

The genius of the Internet is its promise of unlimited accessibility. With very limited exceptions, any consumer with an Internet connection and a computer can visit any web site, attach any device, post any content, and provide any service.