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from: Technology Daily

Christian Coalition Ramps Up Effort On Behalf Of 'Net Neutrality' Plan

By David Hatch

(Wednesday, July 19) The Christian Coalition will play a critical role in trying to generate needed Republican support for a controversial network neutrality amendment sponsored by Sens. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, and Byron Dorgan, D-N.D.

"The more we get our message out, I think we're turning the tide," said Michele Combs, communications director for the Christian Coalition.

The amendment would prevent the Bell telecommunications companies and cable TV firms -- the operators of high-speed Internet lines -- from potentially acting as content gatekeepers or charging firms for premium treatment on the Internet. It is far tougher on broadband operators than language that Senate Commerce Chairman Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, included in his massive telecommunications bill, which cleared the Commerce panel in late June.

Numerous observers agreed that the Snowe-Dorgan amendment would requires the backing of a half-dozen or more Republicans to succeed on the Senate floor. That could be a challenge because iit failed in the Commerce Committee on an 11-11 tie along party lines, with the exception of Snowe's affirmative vote.

Snowe and Dorgan will offer their measure on the Senate floor when the Commerce Committee-approved telecom bill is considered by that chamber, possibly in September.

The Christian Coalition has 50 state organizations. It is worried that if the Internet is divided into faster and slower lanes -- as envisioned by AT&T, Verizon Communications and other major companies -- it might have difficulty reaching its 3 million members.

In August, the group will target about 20 conservative Republican legislators -- using grassroots efforts such as letters, phone calls, e-mails and participation in town hall meetings, to build support for strict neutrality safeguards.

The group will focus its campaign on lawmakers who are not members of Senate Commerce panel, such as Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.

Meanwhile, one source said Snowe is targeting moderate Republicans -- including her Maine colleague, Sen. Susan Collins, and Sen. Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island -- in seeking support for the net neutrality plan.

There is a further complication for the Snowe-Dorgan amendment's supporters. A pro-neutrality group called Save the Internet lists three Democrats -- Sens. Mark Dayton of Minnesota, Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut and Barbara Mikulski of Maryland -- as waffling on the issue.

The offices of Mikulski and Dayton confirmed they are undecided. Lieberman's office did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

The conservative Christian Coalition is allied with the liberal MoveOn.org, which will conduct similar grassroots efforts next month in states with Democratic senators to press for net neutrality. The organizations plan to jointly run national ads about the importance of preserving the Internet's openness.

Meanwhile, Snowe and a few other backers of the amendment, including Commerce ranking member Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, voted for the overall bill in committee even though it did not include their network neutrality language.

"Sen. Snowe had other critical pieces of provisions in the overall legislation," explained spokeswoman Antonia Ferrier, adding that the lawmaker weighed the lack of tough Internet restrictions against aspects she considered beneficial.

Ferrier said swaying colleagues to support net neutrality is a matter of educating them about the consequences of an Internet dominated by communications giants. "We think we have the votes now to pass this on the floor," added Dorgan spokesman Barry Piatt.

Snowe and Dorgan issued a joint statement Tuesday reaffirming their plans to move the amendment.