Al Franken's Blog, page 118

Reclaim the Media: Cantwell, Franken introduce legislation to protect net neutrality

Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) introduced the Internet Freedom, Broadband Promotion, and Consumer Protection Act of 2011 to ensure the broadband Internet continues to serve as a source of innovation, free speech, and job growth. Though Cantwell believes that the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) acted within its authority to issue its own net neutrality rules last December, she stated at the time that they were not strong enough to ensure the Internet remains a source of innovation and economic growth. U.S. Senator Al Franken (D-MN) is an original cosponsor of the Internet Freedom, Broadband Promotion, and Consumer Protection Act.

"Network neutrality principles are the foundation the Internet was built on," said Senator Cantwell. "They support a layered architecture, open standards, and an end-to-end design that gives end users the power to create and commercialize their innovation without having to ask permission from network operators.

"The reason a seemingly technical issue such as net neutrality has become such a politicized fight is that the financial stakes are so high. If we let telecom oligarchs control access to the Internet, consumers will lose. The actions that the FCC and Congress take now will set the ground rules for competition on the broadband Internet, impacting innovation, investment, and jobs for years to come. My bill returns the broadband cop back to the beat, and creates the same set of obligations regardless of how consumers get their broadband."

"Net neutrality is one of the most important issues facing our country today," said Senator Franken. "The recent FCC ruling on net neutrality does not do nearly enough to protect consumers, and this bill is designed to maintain a free and open Internet. This isn't just about speech, it's also about entrepreneurship and innovation, and it's about our economy."

The Internet Freedom, Broadband Promotion, and Consumer Protection Act creates a new section in Title II of the Communications Act by codifying the six net neutrality principles in the FCC's November 2009 Notice of Proposed Rule Making for preserving the open Internet. Additionally, the legislation prohibits broadband operators from requiring content, service, or application providers from paying for prioritized delivery of their Internet Protocol (IP) packets, also known as pay-for priority. The bill also calls for broadband providers to work with local, middle-mile providers on fair and reasonable terms and network management conditions. All of these obligations apply to all broadband Internet platforms, both wireline and wireless.

Cantwell's legislation also takes several steps to promote the adoption of broadband, such as requiring broadband providers to provide service to an end user upon reasonable request and requiring broadband providers to offer standalone broadband Internet access at reasonable rates, terms, and conditions. The bill also tells the FCC that if it extends the Universal Service Fund (USF) to include broadband access, only those broadband providers offering standalone broadband Internet access service will be able to participate in the new broadband fund.

This legislation further increases consumer protection by requiring all charges, practices, classifications, and regulations related to broadband Internet access service meet a public interest "just and reasonable" standard. Currently, broadband Internet access falls under Title I of the Communications Act, making it unclear what protections consumers have. Cantwell's legislation allows broadband service users who believe their broadband provider has violated their net neutrality obligations to file a complaint at either the FCC or a U.S. District Court (but not both). Additionally, State Attorneys General can file on behalf of its residents and seek either to enforce the act or to seek civil penalties.

"Without the strong protections provided by this bill, broadband Internet providers will likely favor their own or affiliated content, service, and applications because they have the economic incentives and technical means to do so," said Senator Cantwell. "This could lead to a tiered Internet with premium fast lanes and slow lanes for the rest of us. We can't afford to let this happen if our nation is to achieve the important broadband goals put forward in the National Broadband Plan."

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Great investment tips from the President

There's no question what's at the top of our agenda: creating jobs and growing the economy.

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Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder: This Congress's biggest job is to create jobs

Minnesota U.S. Senator Al Franken says that solving the state's ailing economy, including creating more jobs in the areas hardest hit economically, "is the biggest thing that I'm focused on." According to the December 2010 Organizing Apprentice Project (OAP) racial equity policy brief, the current jobless rate for Black Minnesotans is 22.5 percent – and 23 percent for Black women.

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Star Tribune: Franken makes play for Medicare drug price negotiations

Picking at one of the old scabs of the health care debate, Sen. Al Franken, D-Min., has introduced legislation that would allow the federal government to negotiate lower drug prices for Medicare beneficiaries.

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Northland's News Center: Senators Help Minnesotans Turn Up The Heat

Duluth, MN (Northland's NewsCenter) U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken (D-Minn.) announced Wednesday that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded Minnesota $7.3 million in emergency contingency funds for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

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Ars Technica: Senators bash "telecom oligarchs," propose strict net neutrality bill

In the month since the FCC adopted its open Internet rules, most of the DC debate over net neutrality has focused on FCC overreach. Verizon sued the agency. MetroPCS sued the agency. Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) introduced a bill to strip the FCC of any authority to regulate Internet access.

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Star Tribune: Hot Dish goes to a hot dish cook-off

Sen. Al Franken hosted the first Minnesota congressional hot dish cook-off, where six of the state's congressional offices submitted hot dish for a blind taste test.

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The Hill: Cantwell introduces bill to strengthen net-neutrality rules

Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) introduced legislation Tuesday to give the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) net-neutrality rules more muscle.

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Pioneer Press: Minnesota senators no friends of filibuster

Changing laws is difficult enough. Changing how laws are made?
Those are fightin' words.

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MPR News: Hot dish!

Nothing kicks off the new Congress like a little hot dish. At least that's what DFL Sen. Al Franken is hoping. Franken is hosting several of his colleagues in Minnesota's Congressional delegation on Wednesday with a little hot dish competition.

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