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from: Democracy Now

Friday, June 9th, 2006
House Passes Controversial COPE Telecom Bill, Rejects Amendment to Protect Net Neutrality

The House voted on legislation yesterday that could determine the future of the Internet and public access television in this country. We examine the implications of the Communications Opportunity, Promotion and Enhancement Act - known as the COPE bill - with Anthony Riddle of the Alliance for Community Media. [includes rush transcript] The House voted on legislation yesterday that could determine the future of the internet and public access television in this country. In a vote of 321 to 101, the House voted to pass the Communications Opportunity, Promotion and Enhancement Act, known as the COPE bill.

from: Pioneer Press

Proposed law could add cable choices but doom local programs
Congress aims to cut cable TV bills

BY MEGGEN LINDSAY and JASON HOPPIN
Pioneer Press

Watching your kids' sports games on television and tuning in to your local city council meeting could become a practice of the past.

from: Free Press

Consumer Groups Decry House Passage of Video Bill That Makes Average Consumers Worse Off

From Free Press, June 9, 2006

Consumer groups decried House passage late today of telecommunications legislation that will leave many consumers worse off, facing cable rate hikes, declines in service quality, inadequate consumer protections, and reduced access to competitive Internet content and services.

from: Web Pro News

House Turns Deaf Ear To Net Neutrality

Jason Lee Miller
Staff Writer
Published: 2006-06-09

Despite the flurry of phone calls, emails, videos and pleas from a wide base of passionate pro-Net Neutrality constituents, representing hundreds of thousands of people from all political persuasions and hundreds of consumer groups, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives crushed an amendment to safeguard an equal opportunity Internet.

Very interesting, as Drew points out, he was the ONLY reporter present after the House vote on major telecommunications legislation.

from: DrewClark.com

Friday, June 09, 2006

The House passed the telecommunications legislation of Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, just past 10 p.m. on Thursday. The final vote tally on the bill was 321-101. Among Republicans, 215 supported it, with only 8 opposed. A majority of Democrats, 108 versus 92, voted for passage. The one independent voted no. Earlier in the evening, an amendment seeking to strengthen the Barton bill's "network neutrality" provisions failed 269-152. The amendment had been offered by Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass.

Note: This AP wire story reads like a Telcom press release, quoting only majority leaders and astroturf spokesperson Mike McCurry.

Lawmakers promise lower cable bills under telecom bill

JIM ABRAMS
Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Monopolies in many cable TV markets could end under House-passed legislation that supporters said would increase competition and drive down prices.

The far-reaching telecommunications legislation, passed 321-101 Thursday night, would encourage telephone companies and others to enter video markets by scrapping the time-consuming system where prospective providers must negotiate individually with every locality.

from:XChange mag

House Passes COPE Act to Dismay of Consumer, Competitive Carrier Advocates
By Kelly M. Teal
Posted on: 06/08/2006

The House, just after 10 p.m. Eastern time on Wednesday, passed the Communications Opportunity, Promotion and Enhancement (COPE) Act without the net neutrality provisions advocates had worked hard to get representatives to adopt.

from: Broadcasting & Cable

House Passes Video Franchise Reform

By John Eggerton
6/8/2006 9:56:00 PM

House energy & Commerce Committee Chairman Joe Barton Thursday delivered on his half of a promise to pass video franchise reform in this session of Congress.

By a vote of 321 to 101, including a majority of both Republicans (215-8) and Democrats (106-92), the House Thursday night passed a bill that will make it easier for telcos to get into video by establishing a national franchising scheme that potentially deeds more oversight of video franchising to the FCC and federal courts.

from: Net Pro News

Net Neutrality Up For Vote; Follow The Money
Jason Lee Miller Staff Writer
2006-06-08

Today or Friday, the House of Representatives will be debating and voting on proposed Net Neutrality amendments to the Communications Opportunity, Promotion, and Enhancement Act of 2006, a bill that will grant sweeping powers to telecommunications and cable companies to set up a tollbooth Internet.

from: Broadband Reports Please see the source for links to supporting documents. The recent AT&T lawsuits trace back to a history (since 2003) of SBC/AT&T fighting the city over their attempts to offer municipal broadband. Apparently this huge corporation hold nasty grudges.

Interview: Fighting AT&T
Peter Collins, IS Manager for Geneva, Illinois