Blackburn: Net neutrality is "fairness doctrine for the Internet"

http://thehill.com/hillicon-valley/605-technology/63875-blackburn-net-neutrality-is-qfairness-doctrine-for-the-internetq

Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) spoke against net neutrality regulations
today at an event put on by the Safe Internet Alliance. Representing
the songwriters, singers, actors, producers and other entertainers in
Memphis and Nashville, she said the creative community does not want
the federal government to interfere with how they are able to get
content to consumers via the Internet.

"Net neutrality, as I see it, is the fairness doctrine for the
Internet," she said. The creators "fully understand what the fairness
doctrine would be when it applies to TV or radio. What they do not
want is the federal government policing how they deploy their content
over the Internet and they want the ISPs to manage their networks and
deploy the content however they have agreed on with ISP. They do not
want a czar of the Internet to determine when they can deploy their
creativity over the Internet. "They do not want a czar to determine
what speeds will be available....We are watching the FCC very closely
as it relates to that issue."

When it comes to broadband expansion, she said, she wants to make sure
"all individuals' rights are respected and that we look at the freedom
of all broadband participants." She said Congress needs to make sure
the groups receiving stimulus funds for broadband expansion are able
to deploy reasonable and effective network management tools so they
can be helpful in tracking down illegal activity."

"We shouldn't look at technology as how do we punish and impede, but
how do we encourage innovation," she said. "That needs to be a key
thought as we move forward... How do we encourage that innvoation and
not impede it?"