If you have to pay more or wait longer to get to your favorite web site in the near future, send your thanks to Colorado Democrat U.S. Representative Mark Udall.
In the U.S. House of Representatives last night, the Communications, Opportunity, Promotion, and Enhancement Act of 2006 (COPE) was passed 321 to 101.
This bill contains the provision that ends net neutrality -- Mark Udall was one of those YES votes.
Udall first voted for the Markey amendment that would have retained the principle of net neutrality -- BUT, in the end, when it really counted, on final passage, Udall voted YES. In other words, Udall can say he was for net neutrality before he was against it.
In addition to ending net neutrality, according to Democracy Now!, this is also what the COPE bill Udall voted for will do:
Another provision of the bill would cut back the obligation of cable TV companies to devote channels to public access and fund the facilities to run them. And the COPE bill would replace local cable franchises with national franchises. The companies contend that this will create competition and lower fees but consumer groups and activists are concerned that it will take control and oversight away from local government as well as cut channel capacity for public, educational and governmental access channels or PEGs. The COPE Act would also permit providers to not provide service to low-income communities that they believe would be less profitable to serve.
Now we know what Qwest, T-Mobile and Level 3 Communications are getting for their latest $3,912, $1,500 and $5,000 contributions (OpenSecrets.org-May 29, 2006) to Udall. Of course there was the $5,500 from Qwest, $2,500 from T-Mobile, and $5,000 from Level 3 given to Udall during the 2004 election cycle.
The battle over net neutrality now moves to the United States Senate.
Please go to SaveTheInternet.com to find out what you can do to defeat this terrible piece of legislation.
Once again, we have an example of the truism ... "If you vote for a Democrat, you might as well elect a Republican."
Dave Chandler in the U.S. House of Representatives will not be beholden to the campaign contributions or Qwest or T-Mobile or Level 3 -- that is for certain. Isn't it time for a real change? We need the kind of change that remembers that the federal government works for ALL the people.
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