Barton Shielding Telecom Bill From House Judiciary Panel

BARTON SHIELDING TELECOM BILL FROM HOUSE JUDICIARY PANEL
[SOURCE: Technology Daily, AUTHOR: Drew Clark]
House Commerce Chairman Joe Barton (R-TX) is doing everything possible to avoid having his panel's telecommunications legislation referred to the Judiciary Committee. Last week Rep Barton and Telecommunications and the Internet Subcommittee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) were cautious about accepting amendments that might give Judiciary jurisdiction over their bill. Bell telephone companies could enter the market for cable television on a national scale under the measure. Their bill also addresses equal treatment for Internet content and network telecom interconnections. It is unclear whether Judiciary will seek to obtain a referral of the measure. Amendments scrutinized closely for possibly opening the door to Judiciary jurisdiction included those dealing with consumer protection rules for national video-franchise holders, child pornography over high-speed Internet networks and access to cable programming. The bill also does not include what some regard as a crucial component on Internet telephony. That issue concerns liability for emergency 911 dispatchers, and it lies within Judiciary jurisdiction, experts said.
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-LLUW1145304458011.html