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By Freddie Mooche (AXcess News) Washington - The telcom reform bill sputtered in the Senate after hearings over 'Net Neutrality' testimony that hasn't affected lawmakers thinking one bit, while Google's approach is to send emails telling us to "do something" - ya, right. Consumer groups and now major search engines are lobbying lawmakers hard over the Net Neutrality portion of the telcom bill that gives carriers and cable companies the right to charge extra for bandwidth. Opponents argue that telephone and cable companies should continue to treat Web sites and services in a neutral way, hence how it became to be known as the 'Net Neutrality' bill. But the phone and cable companies say its too costly to build internet infrastructure, that they need to charge uesrs more for extra bandwidth usage. The House of Representatives voted 321 to 101 last week to give the FCC the right to investigate discrimination in online access, though only after the fact. The Senate Committee is scheduled to vote on a bill introduced by Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK), the chairman of the committee, on June 22nd. If Stevens' legislation were approved it would move to a full Senate vote by July, giving way to a compromise bill members of the House and Senate could agree to before Congress adjourns this fall. Sen. Stevens latest version of the telcom bill did nothing to alter the FCC havnig the power to investigate access discrimination after the fact. So it appears that the guys with the most to loose, the deep pocket principals behind Google, Yahoo and MSN, have made the mistake of sending geeks to Washington to babble about the Internet's freedom instead of padding the pockets of Capitol Hill lobbiysts and politicians long ago when the threat of net neutrality first crossed their desks. Google even started an email campaign, as if that's going to do any good now! What a lame idea. Everybody send e-mails saying "aw shucks, golly gee" - as if that would do a damned thing to change lawmakers minds! Kiss the web good bye, and say hello to charges. What really burns me is the Online News Association and the newspapers behind it who did nothing to rally the media against a handful of Washington's finest - who were already in bed with the telcos and cable companies (investigate lawmakers' campaign donations - there's the smoking gun). And to think that they (ONA) spout off about free communications, blogging and video online as ways to reach more readers. Wait til they get the bill for that! Our editor asked the ONA to take a position in a phone call to ONA Executive Director Tom Regan, who said he'd pass it along to the board, that he thought it was a good idea - the board would not even acknowledge it. They were too interseted in chatting about thier next award meeting or seminar everybody in the online media should attend - at great discounts if you buy early! The media is probably going to defend itself and say they have in fact covered this issue. Ya right, Britney Spear's TV interview with Matt Lowry got more ink! If Googler's want to email somebody, blitz the board of the ONA - their the big shots of the newspaper trade and if they got enouhg flak from readers - they might just roll over and cover the issue and that attention would draw TV news out of the weeds - except for those whose parent companies are in the cable television business - as are mnay of the parent companies in newspirnt. There's only two things that cna sway lawmakers; money or the media. As no one's putting up the cash, and Google sasy "harass your Congressperson", try the press instead. It's your last chance! And while I'm on a rant, just take a look at that old duff Sen. Stevens (circa 1923). He's so old he doesn't even know how to use a computer, let alone surf the net or use e-mail. What does an old fart like that, from Alaska yet, have anything to say to lead a charge to change teelcommunications law? The last I heard Alaska was known for oil, its outdoors and mining - not telecommunications! Something smells behind his move to introduce a bill of that nature in the first place!
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