'Cordial' Discussion, No Negotiation at Hill Telecom Meeting

摘要

Attendees said a closed-door Hill meeting Friday was a productive starting point as Congress pursues an update to the Telecom Act. It was more a listening session than a negotiation over any specific proposal, they told us afterward. But some cited a preference in the room for narrowly targeted network neutrality legislation. The two-hour session was moderated by Bruce Wolpe, senior adviser on the House Commerce Committee, and included 31 participants representing ISPs, Internet edge companies, think tanks, labor and public interest groups. More meetings are planned next month, with the next set for July 2. A diverse array of interested parties attended the meeting. In addition to those reported Thursday, groups present included: USTelecom, CTIA, the Telecommunications Industry Association, CompTel, Rural Cellular Association, Qwest, Sprint Nextel, Dish, Cisco, Microsoft, Level 3, Center for Democracy & Technology, Communications Workers of America, Information Technology Industry Council, Media Access Project, Open Internet Coalition, Phoenix Center and the Progress and Freedom Foundation.