Marsha Blackburn on Technology Republican Representative (TN-7)

Protect user privacy: take away Section 230 from Big Tech

Let's start with online privacy. Big Tech cannot threaten, data mine, or share your information with a third party without getting your explicit consent. It is your privacy. When it comes to censorship, they cannot come in and remove you, remove or block you or throttle you without telling you explicitly why. Big Tech, we are going to take away from you the Section 230 provisions and we are going to save them for little tech, the new entrants in the marketplace.

Opposes Net Neutrality; it's government-controlled internet

Marsha Blackburn (R): No. "Tennesseans do not want government-controlled internet."

Phil Bredesen (D): Yes. "Should guarantee equal access for everyone."

Permanent ban on state & local taxation of Internet access.

Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act of 2007 - Amends the Internet Tax Freedom Act to make permanent the ban on state and local taxation of Internet access and on multiple or discriminatory taxes on electronic commerce.

Related bills: H.R.743, H.R.1077, H.R.3678, S.156.

Require websites to police for copyrighted materials.

Congressional Summary:Stop Online Piracy Act or SOPA (in the Senate, Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property Act or the PROTECT IP Act, or PIPA) :

• Authorizes the Attorney General to seek a court order against an Internet site facilitating online piracy to require the operator to cease and desist further activities constituting copyright infringement, unauthorized trafficking of sound recordings or videos of live musical performances, or trafficking in counterfeit labels.
• Allows an intellectual property right holder harmed by a US-directed website used for infringement, to first provide a written notification identifying the site to related payment network providers and Internet advertising services requiring such entities to suspend their services.
• Requires online service providers, Internet search engines, payment network providers, and Internet advertising services, upon receiving a court order relating to an AG action, to carry out preventative measures including withholding services from an infringing website or preventing users located in the US from accessing the infringing website.

OnTheIssues Notes: SOPA and PIPA, proponents claim, would better protect electronic copyright (`IP`, or Intellectual Property). Opponents argue that SOPA and PIPA would censor the Internet. Internet users and entrepreneurs oppose the two bills; google.com and wikipedia.com held a `blackout` on Jan. 18, 2012 in protest. An alternative bill, the OPEN Act was proposed on Jan. 18 to protect intellectual property without censorship; internet businesses prefer the OPEN Act while the music and movie industries prefer SOPA and PIPA.

Defund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

A BILL To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit Federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting after fiscal year 2013.

Be it enacted--
• No Federal funds may be made available to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting after fiscal year 2013.
• Corporation for Public Broadcasting is Prohibited From Accepting Federal Funds.

Sponsored bill to end net neutrality; allow tiered service.

Congressional Summary:Prohibits the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from proposing, promulgating, or issuing any regulations with regard to the Internet or IP-enabled services. Makes such prohibition non-applicable to regulations that are determined necessary to:

1. prevent damage to U.S. national security;
2. ensure public safety; or
3. assist or facilitate any actions taken by federal and state law enforcement agencies.

Congressional Findings:

• The Internet and all IP-enabled services are services affecting interstate commerce; and
• such services are not subject to the jurisdiction of any State or municipal locality.

OnTheIssues Explanation: This bill opposes `net neutrality,` the principle that all users should have equal access to the Internet. By disallowing FCC regulation, commercial carriers could create `tiered service` (which is the opposite of `net neutrality`). Tiered Internet service would allow, for example, faster access for companies who paid more (such as for ads).

Award research grants based on national interest.

Congressional Summary: Scientific Research in the National Interest Act: This bill directs the National Science Foundation (NSF) to award federal funding for basic research and education in the sciences only if the grant promotes the progress of science in the United States, is worthy of federal funding, and is in the national interest.

Support on GovTrack.us: Lead sponsor Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX-21)--chairman of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee--noted the millions of dollars the NSF has doled out for purposes he considers less than worthwhile. In particular, he cited a few examples he considered particularly egregious, including:

• $700,000 to support a climate change-themed musical
• $487,000 to study the Icelandic textile industry during the Viking era
• $516,000 to help amateurs create a video game to `Relive Prom Night`

Opposition on GovTrack.us: The Science Committee`s ranking member, Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX-30) called the bill anti-science. She wrote, `Most Members of Congress lack the relevant expertise to fairly evaluate the merits of any particular grant. If we do not trust the Nation`s scientific experts to make that judgement, then who are we to trust?` Johnson also noted that the NSF already has a rigorous review process, only funding about 1/5 of grant proposals.

White House Opposition: Contrary to its stated purpose, [HR.3293] would add nothing to accountability in Federal funding for scientific research, while needlessly adding to bureaucratic burdens and overhead at the NSF. It would replace the clarity of the [current rules implemented in] 1950, with confusing language that could cast a shadow over the value of basic research.

Legislative outcome: Passed House 236-178-26 (roll call 70, CR H684) on 2/11/16; bill died in Senate committee. The White House had threatened to veto the bill if it passed the Senate.

CC:Secure the grid against terrorism.

The Christian Coalition Voter Guide inferred whether candidates agree or disagree with the statement, 'Take federal action to secure the grid against foreign/terrorist interference ' Christian Coalition's self-description: "Christian Voter Guide is a clearing-house for traditional, pro-family voter guides. We do not create voter guides, nor do we interview or endorse candidates."

Prohibit the return of the Fairness Doctrine.

A bill to prevent the Federal Communications Commission from repromulgating the fairness doctrine. Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), notwithstanding any other provision of any Act, from having the authority to require broadcasters to present opposing viewpoints on controversial issues of public importance, commonly referred to as the Fairness Doctrine.