During the Senate break, both sides on the network-neutrality debate spent a lot of time generating spin and refining arguments, notes the National Journal. Net-neutrality supporters bombarded Senators with petitions. Both phone and cable providers and associations bombarded users with ads. Qwest CEO Dick Notebaert took time out of his busy scheduled to state that the idea of ensuring equal, open access to the Internet was "really silly."

One interesting bit in all the noise: Public Knowledge points to this promotional pdf that is being circulated by the Senate Commerce Committee itself to "sell" its Senate Communications Act of 2006. You'll note that among the list of supporting "consumer groups" are some familiar faces (like Consumers for cable choice) who are actually incumbent lobbyists dressed up as consumer groups. You'll also notice that for whatever reason, the impartial committee promotional pdf features editorials solely against net-neutrality.