Net neutrality clears committee

House Judiciary passes Internet access measure

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House Judiciary Committee on Thursday approved legislation aimed at preventing high-speed Internet network providers from discriminating against unaffiliated services, content and applications.

Content providers like Google Inc., Microsoft Corp. and Yahoo Inc.have expressed concerns that they would be forced to pay Internet service providers extra to ensure consumers can access their content.

The measure, approved by a vote of 20-13, would amend U.S. antitrust law. It would also counter a rival bill from another House committee that wants to encourage network providers to preserve consumers' ability to freely surf the Internet instead of adopting stricter rules.

"The lack of competition in the broadband marketplace presents a clear incentive for providers to leverage dominant market power over the broadband bottleneck to pre-select, favor or prioritize Internet content over their networks," said Judiciary Chairman James Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin. [Sensenbrenner and Rep. John Conyers, the committee's ranking Dem, are the bill's sponsors. -- Xoff.]

Network providers like AT&T Inc.and Verizon Communications Inc. are fighting any requirements. They argue there is no threat or instance of consumers being blocked from Internet sites or having their service degraded.

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