Senate Judiciary Panel Eyes Telecom Proposal

SENATE JUDICIARY PANEL EYES TELECOM PROPOSAL
[SOURCE: Technology Daily, AUTHOR: Sarah Lai Stirland]
The Senate Judiciary Committee is likely to seek a role in reshaping telecommunications law, according to a committee aide. At least three panel members are concerned about some of the issues addressed in the telecommunications bill crafted by Senate Commerce Chairman Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, and unveiled last week, the aide said. "Net neutrality is something we have significant jurisdiction over," the aide said, referring to the question of whether the Bell telecommunications and cable companies should be barred from charging Internet companies for speedier content delivery. "It's basically a vertical integration issue that involves competition policy, not directly telecommunications policy." Three senators on the Judiciary panel also are concerned about antitrust, copyright policy, distance learning and rights-of-way issues presented in the telecom bill. They include Judiciary ranking member Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Sens. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), and Herb Kohl (D-WI). A spokesman said Sen Kohl has not sought to take any action on the telecom reform bill, and noted that the committee already has plans to examine competition policy issues in a hearing about the proposed AT&T and SBC Communications merger later this month.
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-DCKL1147370676551.html

* Committees Debate Telecom Bill Jurisdiction
[SOURCE: Multichannel News 5/12, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6334506.html?display=Breaking+News