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from: Technology Daily

Dingell's Remarks On Telecom Bill Draw Mixed Reaction From Bells

By David Hatch

(Thursday, November 9) The Bell telecommunications firms had mixed reactions to news that incoming House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell, D-Mich., will pursue fresh telecommunications legislation in 2007.

from: Technology Daily

Telecom Bill Appears Dead For Year

By David Hatch

(Revised Thursday, November 9) Pending deregulatory telecommunications legislation faces new hurdles now that Democrats have won the House and gained control of the Senate, industry sources said.

from: Technology Daily

Telecom Reform, Merger Are On Rep. Dingell's Radar

By David Hatch

(Wednesday, November 8) House Democrats will pursue a fresh telecommunications overhaul next year, incoming Energy and Commerce Chairman John Dingell said. The panel also will ask the FCC to delay consideration of the AT&T, BellSouth merger until 2007 so it can oversee deliberations on the transaction.

from: Technology Daily

Tech, Telecom Donations Flow To Newly Empowered Democrats

By David Hatch

(Revised Wednesday, November 8) In the runup to Tuesday's election, Microsoft, Time Warner and other deep-pocketed telecommunications and technology giants filled the campaign coffers of House Democrats who will now emerge as key powerbrokers with their party having captured a House majority.

from: DSL Reports

A Democratic House's Impact on Telecom
Goodbye national franchises, hello net-neutrality laws?

Posted on 2006-11-08 15:17:35 by Karl

Democrat John Dingell (MI) and Democrat Ed Markey (MA) have both been avid supporters of net-neutrality laws and are expected to take command of telecom policy when Democrats reclaim power in the House next January. Dingell will be appointed chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees phone & cable operators. Markey will lead the Telecommunications and the Internet Subcommittee, which could apply pressure to change tactics at the FCC.

from: TMP Cafe

Lame Duck Senators Plan Fresh Assault on Net Neutrality

To learn more about GOP plans for the lame-duck session visit Lameduckhunt.org

If national polls are right, the upcoming midterm election could bring a dramatic shift of power on Capitol Hill. But that may not save us from a last-minute assault on Net Neutrality by members of the outgoing Congress.

See the note at the bottom "Actual (throughput) speeds will vary." It's hard to imagine a press release from any other utility engaged in deregulatory legislation to so boldly assert that their service may be uneven and vary. Imagine a electric utility advertising that "brownouts may occur".

from: Earth Times

from: CNET

AT&T-BellSouth merger vote delayed for third time

By Marguerite Reardon
Story last modified Thu Nov 02 17:23:36 PST 2006

The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday delayed for a third time a vote on whether to allow AT&T to acquire BellSouth--a postponement that's due to the commissioners' inability to agree on conditions of the deal.

from: National Journal

Groups Back Telecom Deal Without FCC Disclosures

October 27, 2006
By David Hatch

Some nonprofits that back the AT&T, BellSouth merger receive considerable funding from the companies but do not disclose the ties in their comments to the FCC. No disclosure is required, but some observers think regulators should be made fully aware of the connections.

From New York Times

Cable and Phone Companies Compete, but Both Thrive

November 1, 2006
By Ken Belson

Investors cannot seem to decide what to do with the stocks of phone and cable companies. Last year, they dumped the shares on the hunch that those industries would be hurt as they moved onto each other’s turf.