Internet Freedom and Nondiscrimination Act of 2006

Bill: 109-hr-5417
Sponsor: Rep. Sensenbrenner, F. James, Jr. [R-WI-5]
Introduced: 2006-05-18 in the House
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Antitrust law
Broadband
Commerce
Computer networks
Computer software
Consumer education
Fees
Internet
Restrictive trade practices
Telecommunication industry

Summary:
action_date: 2006-05-18
text: 
Internet Freedom and Nondiscrimination Act of 2006 - Amends the Clayton Act to prohibit any broadband network provider from: (1) failing to provide its services on reasonable and nondiscriminatory terms; (2) refusing to interconnect its facilities with those of another service provider on reasonable and nondiscriminatory terms; (3) blocking, impairing, discriminating against, or interfering with any person's ability to use a service to access or provide lawful content, applications, or services over the Internet (or imposing an additional charge to avoid such prohibited conduct); (4) prohibiting a user from attaching or using a device on the provider's network that does not physically damage or materially degrade other users' utilization of the network; or (5) failing to clearly and conspicuously disclose to users accurate information concerning service terms.
 
Requires a provider that prioritizes or offers enhanced quality of service to data of a particular type to prioritize or offer enhanced quality of service to all data of that type without imposing a surcharge or other consideration.
 
Permits a provider to take reasonable and nondiscriminatory measures to: (1) manage the functioning of its network and services to protect security; (2) give priority to emergency communications; and (3) prevent a violation of federal or state law.

action_date: 2006-06-29
text: 
Internet Freedom and Nondiscrimination Act of 2006 - Amends the Clayton Act to prohibit any broadband network provider from: (1) failing to provide its services on reasonable and nondiscriminatory terms; (2) refusing to interconnect its facilities with those of another service provider on reasonable and nondiscriminatory terms; (3) blocking, impairing, discriminating against, or interfering with any person's ability to use a broadband network service to access or offer lawful content, applications, or services over the Internet (or imposing an additional charge to avoid such prohibited conduct); (4) prohibiting a user from attaching or using a device on the provider's network that does not physically damage or materially degrade other users' utilization of the network; or (5) failing to clearly and conspicuously disclose to users accurate information concerning service terms.
 
Requires a provider that prioritizes or offers enhanced quality of service to data of a particular type to prioritize or offer enhanced quality of service to all data of that type without imposing a surcharge or other consideration.
 
Permits a provider to take reasonable and nondiscriminatory measures to: (1) manage the functioning of its network and services; (2) give priority to emergency communications; (3) prevent a violation of federal or state law; (4) offer consumer protection services; (5) offer special promotional pricing or other marketing initiatives; or (6) prioritize or offer enhanced quality of service to all data of a particular type without imposing a surcharge or other consideration.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-06-29
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 303.
action_date: 2006-06-29
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 109-541.
action_date: 2006-06-29
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 109-541.
action_date: 2006-05-25
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 20 - 13.
action_date: 2006-05-25
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2006-05-18
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2006-05-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2006-05-18
text: Introduced in House