A key House panel will address the conduct of Internet service providers Tuesday (May 6). The House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet will consider the Internet Freedom Preservation Act of 2008 (H.R. 5353), sponsored by Chairman Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Rep. Chip Pickering, R-Miss.
The legislation would make net neutrality a national policy and order the FCC to hold hearings on the issue. April 22, the Senate Commerce Committee discussed similar legislation sponsored by Sens. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., and Olympia Snowe, R-Maine.
The hearing, May 6 at 9:30 a.m. EDT, will be Webcast from the House Energy and Commerce Committee Website.
At the Senate hearing, FCC Chairman Kevin J. Martin said he opposed ISP blockage of lawful net activity but said he didn’t need additional laws from Congress.
Witnesses expected to testify include NCTA boss Kyle McSlarrow and Christian Coalition of America Vice President for Communications Michelle Combs, both of whom also testified at the April 22 Senate Commerce Committee hearing.
Other witnesses announced are:
- Mitch Bainwol, chairman and CEO of the Recording Industry Association of America
- Christopher S. Yoo, law professor and founding director of the Center for Technology, Innovation, and Competition at the University of Pennsylvania
- Ben Scott, policy director of Free Press (on behalf of Free Press, Consumers Union and the Consumer Federation of America)
- Scott Savitz, CEO and founder of Shoebuy.com
- Steve Peterman, executive producer of “Hannah Montana,” (on behalf of Writers Guild of America, West)
- Walter McCormick, president and CEO of United States Telecom Association
