WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) today introduced S.2686, the Communications, Consumer's Choice, and Broadband Deployment Act of 2006. The legislation, which consists of 10 separate titles, reforms existing communications laws to promote competition, cost savings for consumers, and the speedy deployment of broadband services to all Americans. Co-Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) co-sponsored the bill.

The Committee will take up the bill during a two-step process. First, the Committee will hold two public hearings to consider the bill. Following this period of review, the Committee will hold an Executive Session after the Memorial Day recess to markup the legislation. Hearing dates and the Committee markup of the bill are to be determined. Below is a summary of the Communications, Choice, and Broadband Deployment Act of 2006. The bill itself, its table of contents, and Chairman Stevens' statement of introduction are attached.