Net neutrality continues to wrangle members of the House and Senate as lawmakers debate the pros and cons of the U.S. Telecom Act. They’re not alone in being divided, though, as government officials too made clear their opposing views in speaking at the Wireless Communications Association conference.
Howard Waltzman, chief counsel of Telecommunications and the Internet for the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee, for instance, wants the act passed for more multi-channel competition and lower cable prices. Yet Johanna Shelton, minority counsel of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee, claimed that there are clearly problems in the bill and further stated “outright blocking is a huge problem.”
While the Web can ensure that everyone can get their point of view across the board regardless of size or influence, the Internet is made of various groups including universities and libraries, according to Shelton. As of right now, Shelton is not confident that the new act would meet this expectation. She questioned whether consumers would have choices with Web sites under the legislation, at a time when the consumer should be in charge of where they want to go.
Gregory Vadas, congressional fellow of Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont., stated that, “We just need a compromise on the issue of Net neutrality” in order for the bill to pass.
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