Fiscal Note
No expenditure required.
Title
That the City of Madison supports federal efforts to enshrine Net Neutrality, applauds the support for Net Neutrality exhibited by Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin and Senator Russ Feingold, and calls on Senator Herb Kohl and other members of Congress to likewise support such efforts.
Body
WHEREAS, a broadband network free of restrictions on the kinds of equipment attached and the modes of communication allowed is a "neutral network"; and
WHEREAS, the use of the power to discriminate between traffic types by Internet service providers, charging tolls on content from some content providers, particularly competitors, is an onerous threat, and that inability to pay the tolls would result in poor service or no service for certain websites or certain types of applications; and
WHEREAS, the free and open nature of the Internet has fostered unprecedented innovation, economic growth, and democratic uses; and
WHEREAS, a fundamental part of the Internet's nature is the fact that no one owns it and it is open to all comers; and
WHEREAS, the growth of a free and open Internet has provided historic advances in the realms of communication, research, and economic development; and
WHEREAS, the imposition of additional fees for Internet content providers would unduly burden web-based small businesses and start-ups, as well as communications for non-commercial users, religious speech, civic involvement, and exercising our First Amendment freedoms; and
WHEREAS, carefully developed public policy regulation in the area of Net Neutrality will effectively thwart attempts by broadband behemoths to block, impair, or degrade a consumer's ability to access any lawful Internet content, application or service; will protect the right to attach any device for use with a broadband connection; will ensure that phone and cable companies cannot favor themselves or affiliated parties to the detriment of other broadband competitors, innovators, and independent entrepreneurs; and will prohibit the broadband Internet providers from charging extra fees and warping the web in a multi-tiered network of bandwidth haves and have-nots; and
WHEREAS, to encourage broadband deployment and preserve and promote the open and interconnected nature of the Internet, Madison consumers are entitled to access the lawful Internet content of their choice without interference by the Internet service providers; and
WHEREAS, to encourage the continued transformation of Madison's economy to meet future needs and to further the growth of Wisconsin's technology industry, Madison businesses are entitled to, and require, open and unfettered Internet access; and
WHEREAS, the City of Madison's own website, which is an essential tool for communicating with Madison's residents and collecting revenue, could be threatened by a multi-tiered network;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Madison supports federal efforts to enshrine Net Neutrality, applauds the support for Net Neutrality exhibited by Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin and Senator Russ Feingold, and calls on Senator Herb Kohl and other members of Congress to likewise support such efforts.