NET NEUTRALITY UNRESOLVED IN REVISED SENATE BILL

摘要

Net neutrality remains a major obstacle in building consensus for telecom legislation among members of the Senate Commerce Committee, committee aides said in a briefing Mon. Chmn. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) is in negotiations with committee members to strike a balance on language, but it抯 揾ighly unlikely?anything would be ready for Tues.抯 hearing on the bill, an aide said. The crux of the net neutrality debate is weighing protection of users?access to the entire Internet using whatever devices they want, against the effect of govt. intervention in the market, aides said. Resolving the issue will be difficult, as many Democratic members want some regulation, Hill sources said, but the White House has signaled it doesn抰 support that. The OMB released a statement of Administration policy last week supporting the FCC抯 broadband policy principles. 揟he Administration believes the FCC currently has sufficient authority to address potential abuses in the marketplace,?the statement said: 揅reating a new legislative framework for regulation in this area is premature.?Stevens has referred to the net neutrality debate as a 揵attle of the Titans,?one aide said: 揌is view is that the matter is better left to the billion- dollar companies.?nnThe Senate bill in its latest incarnation reflects changes requested by local govts., aides said. 揟his is a significantly different document,?said one. The bill has changed to the point where some Republicans may 搕hink we抳e gone too far,?the aide said: 揥e抣l see whether we抳e done enough?to gain consensus among committee members. The bill抯 new language would extend the time that franchise authorities have to grant applications from service providers to 90 days from 15. Cities said they needed more time to process applications. The bill doesn抰 contain video service build- out language, and committee aides said Stevens considers the matter 搉ot negotiable.?But Hill sources said build out remains of major concern and an amendment is likely when the bill is marked up June 20.