WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- Two senior House Judiciary Committee members introduced a bill Thursday that could subject cable and telephone companies to antitrust enforcement if they unfairly handle Internet traffic.

Sponsored by Judiciary Chairman John Conyers, D-Mich., and Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., the bill would require Internet service providers to operate their networks so all content, applications and services are treated equally.

Major Internet service providers, such as cable giant Comcast Corp. (CMCSA, CMCSK), have been accused of slowing the Internet connections of consumers using file-sharing software such as BitTorrent.

The Conyers and Lofgren bill shares the same goal as an Internet measure sponsored by Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., although Markey's bill doesn't include the antitrust enforcement powers.

Antitrust issues fall under the jurisdiction of the Judiciary Committee. Markey's bill, however, falls under the Energy and Commerce Committee, where he chairs the Telecommunications Subcommittee.

Markey and Conyers have offered competing bills on "network neutrality" in the past, which has caused some tension. Network neutrality is a longstanding Internet principle that seeks to treat all Internet traffic and content equally.

Markey spokeswoman Jessica Schafer said the staff is reviewing the Conyers and Lofgren bill. "It shows the widespread interest in protection consumers," Schafer said.

-By Fawn Johnson, Dow Jones Newswires; 202-862-9263; fawn.johnson@ dowjones.com

  (END) Dow Jones Newswires
  05-08-08 1821ET
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