Saturday, May 06, 2006

Where Does Jim Cooper Stand on Net Neutrality?

Well, I got a response from Tennessee U.S. House Representative Jim Cooper on the letter I sent him favoring net neutrality. However, after reading over it several times, I cannot figure out whether he leans toward or away from those who would vote to defend net neutrality.

I'll let you read his letter and judge for yourself. Here's the body of the letter:
Thank you for writing to me to express your views on the equal access of content providers to Internet capacity, also known as "net neutrality".

As you know, Internet service providers have traditionally allowed their customers to access all websites and content available on the Internet, generally regardless of the amount of bandwidth these services require relative to others. Today, providers such as cable and telephone companies seek to expand the availability of video services over their networks, therefore many people worry that such services will restrict the amount of bandwidth available for other Internet services. Additionally, service providers may offer some content providers preferred access to customers' bandwidth for a fee, meaning that large Internet companies such as Yahoo or Google could have better access to customers' homes than smaller and newer companies.

The Internet has thrived because it has embraced and enabled new innovative technologies. Many emerging Internet technologies require increasingly more bandwidth to deliver their value to consumers. At the same time, if Internet service providers do not find it economical to build faster and larger networks, bandwidth will not expand enough to keep up with consumers' need. As Congress examines this issue, I will study all of the data available and evaluate legislative approaches about how to encourage innovation and allow consumers to access the next-generation services they require.

Thank you for your time and for you advocacy on behalf of consumers. I look forward to hearing from you in the future regarding this and other issues.
So, what do you think? Is Congressman Cooper neutral or is he leaning toward service providers like AT&T and Comcast?

3 comments:

  1. Damn, your bellsouth photoshop is much better than the one I did.

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  2. It's a very good non answer. I must commend the aide who wrote it. J-Sprags? lol.

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  3. Like a lot of things,Cooper says a lot.But when it comes to votes,you CANNOT count on him to do the right thing.

    Example.He voted FOR CAFTA, FOR the bankruptcy legislation and FOR funding this stupid religious war.

    Cooper needs to nest elsewhere.I'm voting for Ginny Welsch for this district. You should too.

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