In one sense we lost in the House, but in another sense we got what we wanted - we made Net Neutrality into a big issue that couldn't be gutted in the dark of the night as part of an omnibus bill - we made it into a fight, and for that Matt Stoller, Conyers and Pelosi and many many others deserve a lot of credit.

Now, however, it has moved to the Commerce Committee in the Senate. Mark up starts Thursday. The current version of the bill has a protection for political speech, and an attempt will be made to spin that as a "compromise". The important part, however, is not that, it's making sure that telecom companies can't discriminate and sell tiered access, so that those who haven't paid to play have their bits get to internet users who have asked for them, long after those who pay to play.

So, if this is something that concerns you (and frankly the end of network neutrality is a direct threat to the viability of sites like the Agonist and other blogs) please consider calling members of the Commerce Committee if you are in their states.

They are:

Chairman Ted Stevens (AK): (202) 224-3004; (202) 224-2354 FAX
John McCain (AZ): (202) 224-2235; Fax: (202) 228-2862
Conrad Burns (MT): 202-224-2644; Fax: 202-224-8594
Trent Lott (MS): (202) 224-6253; Fax: (202) 224-2262
Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX): 202-224-5922; 202-224-0776 (FAX)
Olympia J. Snowe (ME): (202) 224-5344; FAX (202) 224-1946
Gordon H. Smith (OR): 202.224.3753; Fax: 202.228.3997
John Ensign (NV): (202) 224-6244; Fax: (202) 228-2193
George Allen (VA): (202) 224-4024; Fax: (202) 224-5432
John E. Sununu (NH): (202) 224-2841; FAX (202) 228-4131
Jim DeMint (SC): 202-224-6121; Fax: 202-228-5143
David Vitter (LA): (202) 224-4623; Fax: (202) 228-5061

Co-Chairman Daniel K. Inouye (HI): 202-224-3934; Fax: 202-224-6747
John D. Rockefeller (WV): (202) 224-6472; (202) 224-7665 Fax
John F. Kerry (MA): (202) 224-2742 - Phone; (202) 224-8525 - Fax
Byron L. Dorgan (ND): 202-224-2551; Fax: 202-224-1193
Barbara Boxer (CA): 202-224-3553
Bill Nelson (FL): 202-224-5274; Fax: 202-228-2183
Maria Cantwell (WA): 202-224-3441; 202-228-0514 - FAX
Frank R. Lautenberg (NJ): (202) 224-3224; Fax: (202) 228-4054
E. Benjamin Nelson (NE): Tel: (202) 224-6551; Fax: (202) 228-0012
Mark Pryor (AR): (202) 224-2353; Fax: (202) 228-0908

Also, in the house the Judicial committee took it up as a potential violation of anti-trust laws. If you have Arlen Specter as your Senator, please call him and urge him to do likewise at 202-224-4254.

And, since this will almost certainly make it to the floor, calls to any Senators, or letters to the editor would be a big, big help.

Hat tip to Christy at FireDogLake from whom I cut and pasted the contact info (with permission.)