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from: MSNBC

How Washington will shape the Internet
The Web was the Wild West — until the sheriff rode into town

By Michael Rogers
Columnist
Special to MSNBC

Updated: 11:21 a.m. ET July 11, 2006

The most potent force shaping the future of the Internet is neither Mountain View’s Googleplex nor the Microsoft campus in Redmond. It’s rather a small army of Gucci-shod lobbyists on Washington’s K Street and the powerful legislators whose favor they curry.

Copyright 2006 Access Intelligence, LLC.
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Telecomweb news break

July 6, 2006 Thursday

Communications Reform Bill Gets Fast Tracked

In a rarely seen legislative maneuver, the sweeping communications reform bill recently approved by a key Senate committee (TelecomWeb news break, June 30) has been re-designated as a House of Representatives proposal, ostensibly to accelerate the floor voting process during this Congressional session.

from: MultiChannel News

An Indirect Path to Mandate

By Ted Hearn7/10/2006

Washington— Senate telecommunications legislation would “indirectly” provide the Federal Communications Commission with a new opportunity to impose broad digital broadcast-TV carriage requirements on cable operators, according to Senate Commerce Committee chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska).

At present we do not support Senate Bill S.2686 (now renamed HR.5252). The Bill passed on June 28th in the Commerce Committee in a 15-7 vote. It excludes much needed protections against red-lining (there are no enforceable build-out provisions) and also fails to protect net neutrality. These are two key issues we can't compromise on.

From Reuters, July 3, 2006

Verizon’s TV Licensing May Be Only Half the Fight

By Ritsuko Ando

Verizon Communications Inc. looks increasingly impatient to roll out its Web-based television service nationwide, suing a Maryland county last week for hampering its entry, but getting licenses may only be half the battle.

Analysts say that while Verizon’s state-of-the-art fiber optic network allows multiple channels of high-definition video and faster downloading, the phone company must show more proof that its multibillion-dollar investment is worthwhile.

Note: Local Governments are opposing legislative loopholes in S.2686 - especially one that allows AT&T's satellite service to escape video franchising agreements. AT&T uses satellite TV service in areas it has no current or anticipated fiber infrastructure installed.

from: MultiChannel News

from: TV Technology

Stymied Senate Bill Bodes Ill for Broadcast

The telecom bill working its way through Congress could be bad juju for broadcast--should it ever get through the Senate. Tucked within the 10 titles of the bill is legislation that would open up unused broadcast spectrum for unlicensed devices.

from: National Journal

Frist Wants 60 Votes Before Bringing Telecom Bill To Floor

A Senate bill to overhaul the communications industry could fall victim to the limited legislative calendar and heightened political climate this fall. Senate Majority Leader Frist is considering whether to bring the legislation to the floor this fall, but first he has ordered Commerce Chairman Stevens to get 60 senators on record in support of the measure to overcome a potential filibuster. Even if Stevens succeeds, Frist is likely to weigh the political benefits against a potential policy fight before scheduling a vote. "The clock will be a major factor regardless of whether 60 votes can be found," a Frist aide said today. "[Frist] will take it one step at a time -- he thinks it's time for a major overhaul to the telecommunications laws in the age of the Internet and wireless, but the report needs to be written, Stevens and [Commerce ranking member Daniel] Inouye [D-Hawaii] need to try to get public commitments from 60 colleagues, and then he'll take a look at the calendar and decide if this giant policy and floor fight is appropriate for the 109th Congress, or for the 110th." Stevens said he would negotiate with senators and likely slice off parts of the bill to win votes. But he drew a line in the sand on video franchising changes and provisions to broaden the universal service fund, which provides phone service to rural and low-income areas.

from: USA Today

By Angela Gunn

Dazed and confused

There's just so much doublespeak in here I'm not sure where to begin, but my personal highlights from the audio of Alaska senator Ted Stevens' speech yesterday re Net neutrality are:

from: CNET News

Week in review: Tech face-lift

By Steven Musil
Story last modified Fri Jun 30 12:10:36 PDT 2006

A massive communications bill is taking shape in the Senate, and it promises to change the shape of the tech world.

A U.S. Senate panel narrowly rejected strict Net neutrality rules, dealing a grave setback to companies like eBay, Google and Amazon.com that had made enacting them a top political priority this year. By an 11-11 vote, the Senate Commerce Committee failed to approve a Democrat-backed amendment that would have ensured all Internet traffic is treated the same no matter what its "source" or "destination" might be.