Congressional Leaders Warn Against Google/Verizon Pact

Paid prioritization of traffic, such as outlined in the Google/Verizon agreement announced last week, would close the open Internet, warned four Congressional in an open letter to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski.


The letter, signed by Representatives Edward Markey, Anna Eschoo, Mike Doyle and Jay Inslee, argues that the FCC must push ahead to resolve the current proceedings on broadband regulation and Net Neutrality. The following fundamental principles are stated:


1. The FCC must have oversight authority for broadband access services.


2. Paid prioritization would close the open Internet, and therefore a commonsense, nondiscrimination requirement without loopholes is essential for an efficient marketplace where businesses and consumers -- not carriers -- decide the winners and loser in the Internet ecosystem.


3. Wired and wireless services should have a common regulatory framework and rules.


4. Broad "managed service: exceptions would swallow open Internet rules.


Representative Anna G. Eshoo stated: "In my Silicon Valley district there are people building the next generation of internet breakthroughs. We cannot undermine their success by 'cable-izing' the Internet. That's why my colleagues and I remain steadfast in our commitment to net neutrality. The reactions to the legislative proposal from Google and Verizon demonstrate that it is not nearly strong enough to meet this standard."http://markey.house.gov/docs/08-16-2010_letter_to_chairman_genachowski.pdfhttp://markey.house.gov/"In my Silicon Valley district there are people building the next generation of internet breakthroughs. We cannot undermine their success by 'cable-izing' the Internet. That’s why my colleagues and I remain steadfast in our commitment to net neutrality. The reactions to the legislative proposal from Google and Verizon demonstrate that it is not nearly strong enough to meet this standard."