The Senate Commerce Committee took up again today the mark-up of its telecom reform bill S. 2686, sponsored by Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK). The panel churned through a series of amendments among the hundreds proposed, but postponed until tomorrow the most controversial of the bill’s provisions — those dealing with net neutrality and the “broadcast flag.”
The committee rejected a series of amendments proposed by key Democrats. Chief among these was an amendment that would have allowed states to regulate VoIP phone calls. In a statement, NCTA CEO Kyle McSlarrow applauded the progress on the bill’s mark-up, particularly the rejection of state regulation of VoIP. “We applaud the committee for approving an amendment that reaffirms the interstate nature of VoIP service, which we believe strikes an appropriate balance between federal and state oversight of this emerging service,” McSlarrow said.
Another group of amendments, proposed by Stevens, was approved. These amendments all give some relief to cities, which are losing a large degree of local video franchising control under both the Senate and House telecom reform bills.
The changes include: increasing from 75 to 90 days the amount of time that cities would have to negotiate with new video providers before the contract applies; allowing cities to collect monies on fees already paid by cable operators; requiring AT&T’s Internet television service to be subject to new franchising requirements; and ensuring that localities not lose existing public-access channels and institution networks.
The most contentious issue involving franchising, requirement competitors to build out entire communities, won’t be taken up until tomorrow.
Cynthia Brumfield at 10:50 PM|Comments(0)
Blogs We Read
