BOUCHER CALLS FOR CODIFICATION OF NETWORK NEUTRALITY PRINCIPLES
 

August 8, 2005
 
(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Representative Rick Boucher today praised the Policy Statement adopted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Friday, August 5, 2005, and called on Congress to codify the principles of Network Neutrality and ensure that the principles are binding and enforceable. "The FCC’s recent adoption of a Policy Statement regarding the principles of Net Neutrality is an appropriate first step in ensuring that all persons continue to enjoy the unfettered ability to access and use the Internet in a lawful manner without being impeded by broadband network operators. However, the next step must be taken by the Congress in codifying the Net Neutrality principles and bestowing on the FCC the clear authority to enforce the principles," Boucher said.

Boucher called on Congress to enact principles of Net Neutrality which include:

  • ensuring unimpeded consumer access to any lawful content, applications and services on the Internet;
  • allowing consumers to attach and use any device that does not harm the broadband network; and
  • prohibiting broadband network operators from unreasonably favoring themselves or their affiliates in the provision of Internet services.

Boucher noted that incidents of improper action by broadband network operators blocking access to websites that offer content in competition with that offered by the broadband provider have been recently reported and that no binding rule or law currently exists to prohibit network operators from engaging in anti-competitive practices in the operation of their platforms. "The absence of a binding statute codifying the principles of Net Neutrality leaves a significant gap in our regulatory structure which will undoubtedly be exploited again by companies seeking to gain an inappropriate competitive advantage," he added.

"As the House and Senate prepare to reexamine our nation’s telecommunications laws, we have an opportunity to use a light regulatory touch and insert into the statutory law the very common sense principles of Net Neutrality," Boucher concluded.