Partisan wrangling over net neutrality is heating up, with Democrats pledging a fight over a broadband bill they say will mean extra fees and content restrictions on the internet, writes CNET. A committee vote is expected today on a Republican-backed proposal called the Communications Opportunity, Promotion and Enhancement (or COPE) Act. Net neutrality is the concept that network operators should not be allowed to charge content providers extra for the privilege of faster delivery or other preferential treatment.

Democrats say the net neutrality portion of the bill doesn't go far enough to restrict telecommunications companies for levying fees for faster access; Republicans, which constituted the majority, defended the measure, saying it was a bad idea to give the Federal Communications Commission expansive powers to regulate the internet.

At a separate event yesterday, members of the House telecommunications and antitrust task force said they want a hand in drafting net neutrality legislation, hinting at a turf war of sorts. The likely result would be the postponing of the net neutrality issue well into 2007.