Markey

A House of Representatives committee on Wednesday voted 42-12 in favor of a bill that would allow internet carriers to charge Web companies such as Google, Yahoo and eBay more for faster delivery of services to consumers, reports the San Francisco Chronicle. Web companies and public-interest groups had wanted to retain "network neutrality" - meaning all traffic would be treated equally. But that effort failed when an amendment by Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) was defeated 34-22 in a vote more or less along party lines.

Carriers such as AT&T have lobbied for a two-tiered internet model, while internet players such as Google, Yahoo, eBay, Microsoft and Amazon.com have banded together to fight it.

Those web companies will now focus their efforts on the Senate, where at least one bill requiring network neutrality has been introduced and more may be coming. Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., said a tiered internet was anathema to the openness that has allowed it to flourish and innovate.