Ensign Offers Bill to Curtail Econqmic Regulation, End Franchises, Limit State Role

摘要

Sen. John Ensign (R., Nev.) has introduced broadly deregulatory telecom legislation that would eradicate a host of pricing and network access regulations affecting incumbent telcos, eliminate state and local video system franchises and build-out requirements, and replace the multiplicity of state service-quality and consumer protection standards with federally established standards. At a July 27 press briefing in the Capitol to unveil the proposed "Broadband Investment and Consumer Choice Act," Sen. Ensign said the bill does not tackle universal service issues "out of deference to Sen. [Ted] Stevens [R., Alaska] and Sen. [Daniel] Inouye [D., Hawaii]," the chairman and ranking minority member, respectively, of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, to which the as-yet unnumbered bill is likely to be referred.