House Committee Signs Off On Broadband Expansion

by Wendy Davis, Jan 23, 2009, 7:00 AM

• Comment
• Recommend (1)
• Tweet
• 

A new program aimed at expanding broadband availability advanced in Congress Thursday when the House Energy and Commerce Committee approved the measure. And in a victory for broadband advocacy groups, the measure incorporates net neutrality principles.

The program, part of a proposed $6 billion broadband package, calls for the U.S. National Telecommunications and Information Administration to make up to $2.85 billion in grants to companies that will build out broadband and wireless networks. That measure is just one component of a far-reaching $825 billion economic stimulus proposal.

"Broadband investments are important because they have a tremendous multiplier effect on our economy," committee chair Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) said in a statement.

The bill specifies that grant recipients must adhere to the Federal Communications Commission's 2005 broadband policy statement, which set out net neutrality principles. In that statement, the FCC said that consumers are entitled to access all lawful content, to run applications of their choice, and to connect legal devices that don't harm the network.

The FCC takes the position that those principles are binding on Internet service providers. Last year, the agency sanctioned Comcast for violating the policy statement by slowing peer-to-peer traffic. (Comcast, which is appealing the FCC's ruling, argues that the principles were never legally binding because they are neither laws or regulations.)

Digital rights groups cheered the lawmakers for incorporating those standards in the new package. "We're very pleased that Energy and Commerce moved quickly to get this bill through and that they left in the 'open Internet' requirement," said Derek Turner, research director of Free Press.

Seventy-five percent of the grant money allocated Thursday would go to underserved portions of the country, while 25% of it would go to areas that currently lack all broadband.

Wired broadband providers would be required to offer speeds of at least 5Mbps downstream and 1Mbps upstream for the areas that now completely lack high-speed Web access. Those who build networks in "underserved" areas would have to offer speeds of at least 45 Mbps upstream and 15 Mbps downstream.

• Comment
• Recommend (1)
• Tweet
• 

0 comments on "House Committee Signs Off On Broadband Expansion".

1. John Smith from LAUSD
   

   commented on: January 24, 2009 at 10:27 p.m.

   This is a proven ploy to control the Internet in the United States. These Socialists will suddenly start cracking down like Red China. It's going to be sold formaking the net safe for children. Then unless it spews the garbage that passes for political discussion and honesty....with no more than a whim of suggestion the net will be not free as it is. The Democrats will be completely in control of all the media ....It will no longer be a story counter to the Democrat controlled revolution of Obama. Can you say REVOLUTION? I didn't think so.....You're too stupid to get it.

2. John Smith from LAUSD
   

   commented on: January 24, 2009 at 10:29 p.m.

   It seems like a good bill. It appears to be unnecessary and will cost a lot to regulate, but it will look a lot like Red China and Greece in a few months.

3. John Smith from LAUSD
   

   commented on: January 24, 2009 at 10:33 p.m.

   It seems like a good bill. It appears to be unnecessary and will cost a lot to regulate, but it will look a lot like Red China and Greece in a few months. It will take in Public AM radio too. No more Limbaugh, or anyone who may disagree with the propaganda we'll be just like NAZI Germany. Stalinist Russia. But Imagine that Ms. Pelosi would get the flushes to watch a Conservative tortured; she certainly talks enough about it. Those who make big noise about refraining from torture usually love the idea.

Leave a Comment