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Not So Neutral on Net Neutrality

By W. James Antle, III on 10.20.09 @ 2:40PM

Conservative opposition to the push for net neutrality is nothing new. But even some liberal Democrats are starting to object. Amanda Carpenter reports on some Democratic governors who have concerns. There's an item on BigGovernment.com showing that a few liberal groups are following suit:

Those groups include the Communications Workers of America labor union, which in a letter to Chairman Genachowski from Thursday, raised concerns regarding the impact that the FCC's rulemaking could have on job creation at a time of 10 percent unemployment. Groups like the Asian American Justice Center, National Council of La Raza, the League of United Latin American Citizens and the National Urban League, keen to avoid a widening of the "digital divide," also voiced concerns in a letter to the FCC dated October 13.

Democratic Governors, including Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe and North Carolina Gov. Beverly Perdue, have urged caution with regard to the issue. Meanwhile, Oklahoma's Democratic Gov. Brad Henry wrote to Genachowski earlier this month to tout the positive effects of his state's model of "light or no regulation for landline, broadband and wireless services."

Last Thursday, 72 Democratic members of the House of Representatives, also in a letter to Genachowski, wrote that "it is our strong belief that continued progress in expanding the reach and capabilities of broadband networks will require the Commission to reiterate, and not repudiate, its historic commitment to competition, private investment and a restrained regulatory approach."