House hands giveaway to telecommunication companies,
socks it to consumers
New legislation that fails to enshrine principles of "network neutrality" federalizes now-local control of TV providers and lets broadband companies leave underprivileged communities behind.
June 21 As Congress advances plans to overhaul rules for telecommunications companies, grassroots media groups are outraged over lawmakers? refusal to enshrine in legislation the principles of "network neutrality," which hold that all Web content should be equally accessible to a given user. Less publicized portions of the bill could undermine local public-television access and allow Internet and cable providers to keep service out of less-profitable neighborhoods.
The Communications Opportunity, Promotion and Enhancement (COPE) Act of 2006, passed the House by a vote of 321 to 101 on June 8