Image Credit: Pixabay / Public Domain / capitol.tn.gov
The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –
Representative Dennis Powers’ bill that seeks to designate social media platforms as common carriers and prescribe fines for deplatforming and shadow-banning users is slated to be heard in a House subcommittee on Wednesday, February 23rd.
House Bill 2369 (HB2369), in summary, seeks to designate social media platforms as common carriers and requires the entities to obtain certificates of public convenience and necessity from the Tennessee public utilities commission; prescribes fines against social media platforms that deplatform and shadow ban users based on political ideology, viewpoint, or personal animus, or discrimination based on race, creed, color, religion, sex, age, or national origin.
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Representative Powers (R-Jacksboro-District 36) gained a supporter of the bill in Senator Bo Watson (R-Hixson-District 11) who is sponsoring the bill on the Senate side of the legislature.
HB2369 has been placed on the calendar for the House Business and Utilities Subcommittee for 2.23.22.
Note from The Tennessee Conservative: Many good bills die in subcommittees and committees before they ever make it to the floor for a vote. We saw this happen during last year’s General Assembly sessions. If you support HB2369, be sure to contact the Republican subcommittee members (who hold the supermajority vote) listed below to voice your support before their meeting on Wednesday, February 23rd.
House Business and Utilities Subcommittee Members
Clark Boyd (chair) – rep.clark.boyd@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-7086
Rebecca K. Alexander – rep.rebecca.alexander@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-2251
Kent Calfee – rep.kent.calfee@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-7658
Patsy Hazlewood- rep.patsy.hazlewood@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-2746
John B. Holsclaw, Jr. – rep.john.holsclaw@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-7450
Curtis Johnson – rep.curtis.johnson@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-4341
Eddie Mannis – rep.eddie.mannis@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-2287
Kevin Vaughan – rep.kevin.vaughan@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-1866
Greg Vital – rep.greg-vital@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-3025
Jason Zachary – rep.jason.zachary@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-2264
If this bill passes, the new law would not apply to the 2022 midterm elections in Tennessee based on the effective date of January 1, 2023. However, if passed into law, it would offer protections for 2024’s Presidential election.
About the Author: Jason Vaughn, Media Coordinator for The Tennessee Conservative ~ Jason previously worked for a legacy publishing company based in Crossville, TN in a variety of roles through his career. Most recently, he served as Deputy Directory for their flagship publication. Prior, he was a freelance journalist writing articles that appeared in the Herald Citizen, the Crossville Chronicle and The Oracle among others. He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor’s in English-Journalism, with minors in Broadcast Journalism and History. Contact Jason at news@TennesseeConservativeNews.com
2 Responses
Thank you Jason. I will contact each of them and remind them of the Importance of these protections, not only for political organizations, but for all citizens, as well. Since the ending of ‘Net Neutrality we have all suffered greatly under the nazi-like policies of media companies. Interestingly enough, I was just “shadow blocked” when trying to post this moments ago.
Please consider passing the bill HB 2369. We need to have internet neutrality and a free platform for expression of all our political views in this state and especially in this country. We need to straighten up our house first to accomplish this.