Washington - A proposal to prevent big network operators from charging higher fees for faster access to their broadband lines -- commonly referred to as "Net neutrality" -- was resurrected in the U.S. Senate on Tuesday.

Senators Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) and Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) reintroduced their Internet Freedom Preservation Act, which failed to gain traction last year.

"Today's reintroduction of the Internet Freedom Preservation Act marks another step toward ensuring the fate of the Internet lies in the hands of its users and not the hands of a few gatekeepers," said Sen. Snowe. "The tide has turned in the debate between those who seek to maintain equality and those who would benefit from the creation of a toll road on the Internet super highway."

The Senators said their bill has the support of large and small Internet businesses, consumer groups, labor and education groups, religious organizations and others. Co-sponsors of the bill now include Senators John Kerry (D-MA), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Barack Obama (D-IL).

In addition to ensuring that network operators do not discriminate when providing bandwidth, the bill would require providers to offer consumers the option to purchase standalone broadband service that is not bundled with cable, phone, VoIP or similar services.

Related Links:
http://tinyurl.com/y2naa6 (Snowe/Dorgan statement)
http://tinyurl.com/yl8oeg (CNET)