In an effort to combat one of the real issues of the time, Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass has introduced a bill to the House of Representatives that would make it illegal for broadband providing companies and search engines to discriminate against other content in favor of themselves or those who pay extra fees. Taking this a step further, the bill would require the FCC to analyze the fees that these companies are charging to ensure that they are legal.Although some credit must be given to the Representative for attempting to take on a topic such as regulating the internet, it would seem that if the industry is to be improved, there are any number of places that would be a more appropriate start as opposed to taking a regulatory shot at a provider's ability to filter their content however they see best for their customers.
Perhaps they could start with internet based crime, which is now increasing at the fastest rate since the creation of the internet. If the legislature is going to make a law regulating the free use of the internet, it would be better served in solving the problems that are already present instead of creating more.
**In Other News, another famous baseball player was dragged in front of a Congressional committee to discuss..... something.
Written in part by assistant writer Amanda Hilgenfeld.
