Majority Statement

• Ted Stevens

  Senator
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  Majority Statement

  Ted Stevens

  Chairman Stevens Closing Statement after Panel I

  June 13, 2006

   

  Chairman Stevens: The provision calls for an annual review by the FCC on a continued basis the day one.  And when I hear you talk, Mr. Scott, I think you’ve used the word net neutrality really to mean put common carriage provisions applying to all communications. Now we’re not going to do that.  And I don’t think anyone here would agree to put common carriage on all of it.  So, we’re dealing with communications now, not with the three levels of telecommunication, information service, and communication.  It’s all communication because of the vast ability to compete now.  And with regard to the problem of charges, and really, net neutrality itself, if you take a search engine, the people have them will charge you more if you want your name to come up first.  Is that net neutrality?  I think we better be careful about what we’re talking about.  By the way, the law that you referred to, I mean, the concept of video franchising you referred to, we almost copied the law of Texas.  The first place that was served after that new law went into effect, I’m told, was Keller, Texas, which you and I know, is pretty rural.  So, I don’t have the fear you do of the provisions we have here.  We have a watchdog in the FCC who’s got a flag out there, and they’re told annually to report to us, but more than that if they really see something they can define as a violation of net neutrality, to immediately tell us, and we’ll tackle it on legislation.  No, I don’t think it’ll be five years.  If there is something out there called net neutrality that develops we’ll know it very quickly.  I hope you’ll help us get the bill.  I think the bill in itself represents a major step towards recognizing that communications is communications.  And it ought not to be treated differently if it was telecommunications or information service or communications by any other means.  They all ought to be on a level playing field in terms of incentives to expand and develop.  Everything I’ve read says we’re behind the world on broadband.  And I think the reason is, is the fear that we’re not going to pass this bill.  So, let’s move on to the next panel, I appreciate you all coming. 

Minority Statement

• Daniel K. Inouye

  Senator
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  Minority Statement

  Daniel K. Inouye

  Today, we meet again to discuss the issue of telecommunications reform and the changes made to S. 2686 in the Majority’s updated draft released late last week.
  
  While I recognize and appreciate that the new draft makes a number of improvements, I remain concerned by the lack of significant progress in a number of key areas that, in my view, are critical components of telecommunications reform legislation.  
  
  Despite significant changes to preserve the legitimate interests of state and local governments in the franchising process, the legislation must do more to ensure that the franchising process will preserve important consumer protections, promote a fair and neutral process for all operators, and advance the ability of local communities to bring the benefits of modern communications networks to all of their citizens.
  
  Apart from video franchising, the current draft is inadequate in a variety of critical areas.  It fails to maintain network neutrality through enforceable provisions that will prevent unfair discrimination by broadband network operators.  It does not strengthen existing interconnection requirements, nor does it adequately promote competition in special access markets in the face of clear market failure.  To ensure that consumers will see the benefits of increased competition and lower prices in all communications markets, we must ensure that these issues are addressed.
  
  I realize the current draft remains a work-in-progress, and I appreciate the Chairman’s response to concerns aired by Members on both sides of the aisle.  As a result, I look forward to continuing our work on this legislation in the days and months ahead.    
  
  

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Testimony

• Brigadier General Richard Green

  Legislative Director

  National Guard Association of the United States
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• Mr. Ben Scott

  Policy Director

  Free Press
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• The Honorable Dave McCurdy

  President and Chief Executive Officer

  Electronics Industries Alliance
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• Mr. Robert LeGrande, II

  Deputy Chief Technology Officer

  Office of the Chief Technology Officer, District of Columbia Government
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• The Honorable Dan Glickman

  Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

  Motion Picture Association of America
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• Mr. John Rose

  President

  OPASTCO
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• Dr. John Rutledge

  Consultant

  United States Chamber of Commerce
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Witness Panel 2

• Mr. Kenneth Fellman

  Mayor

  Arvada, CO
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• Mr. Kyle McSlarrow

  President and CEO

  National Cable & Telecommunications Association
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• Mr. Walter McCormick

  President and CEO

  United States Telecom Association
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• Mr. Christopher Putala

  Executive Vice President of Public Policy

  EarthLink, Inc.
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• Mr. Philip Jones

  Chairman of the Federal Legislative Committee

  NARUC
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• Mr. Robert S. Foosaner

  Senior Vice President of Government Affairs

  Sprint Nextel
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