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S 74 112th Congress Senate Science, Technology, Communications Administrative law and regulatory procedures Congressional oversight Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Internet and video services Internet, web applications, social media

Internet Freedom, Broadband Promotion, and Consumer Protection Act of 2011

Introduced: January 25, 2011 Introduced by: Cantwell, Maria Democratic · Washington See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 112th Congress ended
It never became law before the 112th Congress (2011–2012) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jan 25, 2011
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S183-185)
Jan 25, 2011
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S181-183)
Jan 25, 2011
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Internet Freedom, Broadband Promotion, and Consumer Protection Act of 2011 - Amends title II (Common Carriers) of the Communications Act of 1934 to add the following provisions (commonly referred to as net neutrality provisions) prohibiting a broadband Internet access service provider (B-IASP) from unreasonably: (1) interfering with an end user's ability to use or offer lawful content (including fair use), applications, or services (CASs), or to use or connect to harmless legal devices; (2) interfering with competition among network or CAS providers; (3) discriminating against lawful CASs, or service providers, or preferring affiliated CASs, as specified; (4) charging for access to end users based on differing levels of quality of service (QOS) or prioritized delivery of Internet protocol (IP) packets (pay-for-priority); (5) prioritizing among or between CASs unless requested by the end user; (6) installing functions or capabilities that interfere with compliance; and (7) refusing to interconnect on reasonable terms and conditions.

Defines a B-IASP as a person or entity that operates or resells and controls any facility used to provide an Internet access service directly to the public, whether provided for a fee or for free, and whether provided via wire or radio, except when such service is offered as an incidental component of a noncommunications contractual relationship.

Prohibits B-IASPs from requiring end users to purchase other specified services as a condition of purchasing broadband Internet access service.

Requires B-IASPs that allow end users to request QOS assurances for the transmission of IP packets associated with its own (or its affiliates) CASs to permit QOS assurances for all IP packets chosen by the end user, without regard to the chosen CASs. Prohibits QOS assurances from blocking, interfering with, or degrading any other end user's access to CASs.

Allows B-IASPs to engage in reasonable network management practices determined by specified factors. Prohibits a B-IASP's practices from being considered reasonable if it charges content, applications, or other online service providers for differing QOS levels or prioritized delivery of IP packets. Permits B-IASPs to offer interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and multichannel-video programming distribution services regulated under title IV of the Act on transmission capacity also used by broadband Internet access services.

Sets forth requirements for: (1) public disclosure; (2) participation in any broadband universal service fund established by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC); and (3) FCC enforcement, private claims, and state actions.

What's happening now January 25, 2011

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S183-185)

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 74: Internet Freedom, Broadband Promotion, and Consumer Protection Act of 2011. 112th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/112-S-74/
MLA
"S. 74: Internet Freedom, Broadband Promotion, and Consumer Protection Act of 2011." 112th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/112-S-74/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 74, 112th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/112-S-74/.
Markdown link
[S. 74: Internet Freedom, Broadband Promotion, and Consumer Protection Act of 2011](https://openamerica.io/bill/112-S-74/)
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