On June 8, 2006, the House passed telecommunications legislation “that will leave many consumers worse off, facing cable rate hikes, declines in service quality, inadequate consumer protections, and reduced access to competitive Internet content and services.”  The Act, H.R. 5252, is oxymoronically called the Communications Opportunity, Promotion and Enhancement Act.

In one of the most contentious battles over the legislation, the House rejected a “network neutrality” amendment offered by Congressman Ed Markey (D-MA) that would restore federal rules that prevent telephone and cable companies that own broadband networks from discriminating against content and service providers in favor of their own commercial offerings.

For more on this sad development from Freepress.net and Consumer’s Union (publisher of Consumer Reports) click here.