Johnson voted right way on Internet bill

June 19, 2006

I am compelled to respond to the June 15 letter from Greg Boozell, a member of the Urbana Public Television Commission, regarding Rep. Tim Johnson's vote on the Communications, Opportunity, Promotion and Enhancement Act, HR 5252.

The writer says it's "obvious that party loyalty and support of corporate welfare rate higher for Johnson than protecting the interests of consumers and citizens in his district."

Boozell obviously does not understand the law, the interests of consumers or Johnson's vote. Boozell obviously understands that the new law will reduce how much the city of Urbana can collect in taxes from subscribers, a trend that runs contrary to the culture of the city, so his anxiety in that regard is entirely understandable.

Party loyalty, support of corporate welfare over consumers? I would remind readers that this bill passed the House, 321-101. It passed out of committee 42-12. These are overwhelming numbers and hardly a party-line vote.

A co-sponsor was Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Chicago, who has at every juncture dismissed the notion that poor areas would be redlined by video providers. Rush represents the South Side of Chicago. Do you think he's going to support such legislation if that were the case? More to the point, the legislation includes strong anti- discrimination provisions that carry fines of up to $500,000.

This bill passed overwhelmingly for the reason that it will allow competition in the video marketplace and lead to lower prices. According to the General Accounting Office, in areas where there is already competition, cable rates are on the average 15 percent lower than in areas where there is no competition, like Champaign-Urbana.

There remains concern about the net neutrality provisions of the legislation, and while critics say the legislation tethers the openness of the Internet, a fine mechanism is in place for that as well. Like all legislation, if those provisions prove insufficient, the subject can be revisited.

PHIL BLOOMER
Communications Director for U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson