Two-tiered Internet: Panel paves way for fees

By Jay Fitzgerald
Boston Herald General Economics Reporter
Thursday, April 27, 2006 - Updated: 02:04 AM EST

A Republican-controlled House committee yesterday rejected a measure by U.S. Rep. Edward Markey (D-Malden) that would have barred telecommunication companies from socking Web sites with extra fees based on bandwidth usage.
Markey’s so-called “Internet neutrality” amendment was defeated on a 34-22 vote by members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

With defeat of the amendment, Markey warned yesterday that America is moving closer to a two-tiered Internet system in which telecom firms such as AT&T, Verizon, Comcast and other firms can start giving special price deals to some users - while hitting others with higher fees.