Legislative Background
Recent Action on Net Neutrality
In August 2005, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) established four principles designed to ensure consumers access to all lawful Internet content and services — a concept known as net neutrality. These principles became the basis for net neutrality language contained in telecommunications reform legislation considered during the 109th Congress — the first major overhaul of the telecommunications law since deregulation of the telephone industry in 1996. House Action. On May 1, 2006, Representative Joe Barton (TX-R), Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, introduced H.R. 5252, the Communications Opportunity, Promotion, and Enhancement Act. While the bill would have given…
