Reuters reports, in an article by Kevin Drawbaugh, dated April 8, 2011, that the U.S. House of Representatives voted to "reject Internet 'neutrality' rules that were adopted last year to keep big Internet service providers from blocking certain traffic."  

The vote, which largely followed party lines, had 240 votes for removal of the rules, with only 179 votes to retain them.  Despite the move from the Republican-led House, a similar bill is not expected to pass the Democratic-controlled Senate (although Reuters reports that the Senate's version of the same bill has 39 co-sponsors). Following the vote, the White House said that President Barack Obama would veto any legislation seeking to repeal the FCC's control over Internet service providers.  

House Republican Leader Eric Cantor (R. VA.), said the House's vote was "'an important step to bring down the FCC's harmful and partisan plan to regulate the Internet.'"

Representative Henry Waxman (D. CA.) said the vote "'would give big phone and cable companies control over what websites Americans can visit, what applications they (Americans) can run, and what devices they can use.'"  Rep. Waxman continued, "[i]n most parts of the country, companies like Verizon, AT&T, and Comcast have a virtual monopoly over access to the Internet. . . . Without regulation, they can choke off innovation by charging for the right to communicate with their customers.'"

Meanwhile, the private sector has tried fighting the FCC's rules via the courts, but to no avail.  "The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia on Monday (April 11, 2011) dismissed to the FCC rules that had been filed by Verizon and MetroPCS Communications, Inc., ruling that the challenges were premature." 

The full article from Reuters can be found at the link above, or here.  

Reuters reports, in an article by Kevin Drawbaugh, dated April 8, 2011, that the U.S. House of Representatives voted to "reject Internet 'neutrality' rules that were adopted last year to keep big Internet service providers from blocking certain traffic."  

The vote, which largely followed party lines, had 240 votes for removal of the rules, with only 179 votes to retain them.  Despite the move from the Republican-led House, a similar bill is not expected to pass the Democratic-controlled Senate (although Reuters reports that the Senate's version of the same bill has 39 co-sponsors). Following the vote, the White House said that President Barack Obama would veto any legislation seeking to repeal the FCC's control over Internet service providers.  

House Republican Leader Eric Cantor (R. VA.), said the House's vote was "'an important step to bring down the FCC's harmful and partisan plan to regulate the Internet.'"

Representative Henry Waxman (D. CA.) said the vote "'would give big phone and cable companies control over what websites Americans can visit, what applications they (Americans) can run, and what devices they can use.'"  Rep. Waxman continued, "[i]n most parts of the country, companies like Verizon, AT&T, and Comcast have a virtual monopoly over access to the Internet. . . . Without regulation, they can choke off innovation by charging for the right to communicate with their customers.'"

Meanwhile, the private sector has tried fighting the FCC's rules via the courts, but to no avail.  "The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia on Monday (April 11, 2011) dismissed to the FCC rules that had been filed by Verizon and MetroPCS Communications, Inc., ruling that the challenges were premature." 

The full article from Reuters can be found at the link above, or here.