Net Neutrality in the House

Thanks no doubt in part to those who’ve been hard at work in the media reform movement over the past few years, we have some good news. Last week, Representatives Edward Markey (D-Massachusetts) and Anna Eshoo (D-California) introduced the Internet Freedom Preservation Act of 2009 (H.R. 3458).

If approved, this legislation could be a landmark victory for those who have been working on Network Neutrality. This act would protect Network Neutrality under the Communications Act, which would not only safeguard the future of the open Internet, but would protect Internet users from experiencing discrimination online.

Network Neutrality is an issue that hits home to many Americans. Since the struggle for Network Neutrality first began, over 1.6 million Americans, across all political spectrums, have called, written petitions, and spoken out publicly urging their members of Congress to get behind this issue.

But we’re not there yet. We still have to tell our members of Congress to side with the public and take a final stand for an open Internet by supporting the Act. The time is ripe for this! President Obama is an avid support of Network Neutrality, there is congressional leadership that is willing to fight for it, and the newly appointed and elected Julius Genachowski as the head of the Federal Communications Commission.

If you’re interested in reading the full text of the bill, click here. Also be sure to check out Tim Karr’s recent piece in the Huffington Post on the Seven Reasons Why We Need Network Neutrality Now.