WASHINGTON - The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Wednesday rejected an amendment to bar broadband high-speed Internet providers from discriminating against content or services.
The amendment offered by Sens. Olympia Snowe, a Maine Republican, and Byron Dorgan, a North Dakota Democrat, would have prevented broadband providers from giving priority to any individual company's content or services.
The panel tied 11-11 in its vote on the amendment, and Chairman Ted Stevens said it failed.
The lawmakers tried to add it to a larger communications bill aimed at making it easier for telephone companies like AT&T Inc. and Verizon Communications to get licenses for offering subscription television service.
