Save Access

from: TMP Cafe - Art Brodsky

The House Votes on Net Neutrality
By Art Brodsky

There is an old cliche that the score of a game can be deceiving. In the case of the House vote on Net Neutrality Thursday night, that cliche doesn't work. The 269-152 vote is as bad as it looks.

But another cliche says it ain't over until it's over. And it ain't over.

It was a shame, as Rep. Ed Markey said, that the House leadership allocated only 20 minutes to debate the future of the Internet. A longer debate wouldn't have made any difference in the vote, but it would given our side a chance to air some more of the issue. But before we despair too much, let's look at the history. Congress is the Bell's home court. In 1995-1996, they beat the old AT&T and MCI in the telecom Act. In 2001, they got legislation passed that was so lopsided in favor of the Bells that it advanced no farther.

Net Neutrality shouldn't be a partisan issue. There should be Republicans who see the value in having a free and open Internet. But unfortunately, that's not happening. A grand total of 11 voted with Markey, who championed Net Neutrality along with Reps. Rick Boucher, Anna Eshoo, Jay Inslee and John Dingell.

More disturbing for TPM readers, however, should be that 58 Democrats sold out the Internet. You can see the vote results here. We know Democrats are not a monolithic party, but this was ridiculous. And not only did they flock to vote with the Bells, many of them signed on as cosponsors of the telecom bill (HR 5252).

With all of that support, the Bells, and the cable companies, got everything they asked for. Bells get streamlined entry into the cable business. Cable gets out of much of its obligations to renew local franchises. And neither has to worry about keeping the Internet open. This result can come about because there are no penalties for voting against the Bells. Neither the corporate backers of Net Neutrality, nor the enthusiastic but diffuse public who supports it are yet in any position to wield the political power to change a politician's mind. That will have to change.

Next up is the Senate, where there is some good support for Net Neutrality from Sens. Olympia Snowe, Byron Dorgan, and Ron Wyden, along with a batch of others who announced support for the principle. If you favor an open Internet, you should encourage these Senators and work to persuade others.

The Bells control the inside game. They spent millions on TV ads, newspaper ads and, most important of all, lobbyists. Bell lobbyists are on the Hill every day, in every office of every member of Congress and Senator. Contrasted with that up-close-and-personal presence, an email petition with 800,000 names has no significance whatsoever. It is an abstraction. Sad, but true.

We can blog forever, and it won't make a difference, except as a vehicle to informing those who want to read about these important issues. If you want to make your voice heard, you have to do it in person. Not everyone can come to Washington, but every politician has to go home. You should find out when your House member or Senator has a town meeting and attend. Or schedule a meeting with a group of friends. Put Net Neutrality on the agenda, whether the politicians want it there or not.