Elections, Net Neutrality May Disconnect Telecom Bill

ELECTIONS, NET NEUTRALITY MAY DISCONNECT TELECOM BILL
[SOURCE: MediaWeek, AUTHOR: Todd Shields]
Lawmakers returning to Washington this week will be greeted by telephone company lobbyists engaged in a final, uphill push for help in emerging as cable’s competitors. Verizon and AT&T want final passage of a bill that would let federal officials rather than localities set guidelines for offering video services. Telephone executives say kowtowing to thousands of localities is a barrier to rolling out TV services that offer hundreds of channels over high-speed lines. Cities and counties are fighting the measure, saying it saps their power to protect constituents and rights-of-way. The bill has prevailed in several votes and now needs an OK from the full Senate to clear Congress. But opponents have the calendar working for them. Lawmakers return to work Sept. 5 and adjourn by early October for the fall election campaign. The intervening weeks are likely to be jammed with routine appropriations and debate on national security.
http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/recent_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003086729

See also --
* Video Franchise Not On Senate Schedule
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The Advanced Telecommunications and Opportunities Reform Act of 2006 is not scheduled for this week, and odds lengthen that it will be considered before the post-election lame duck session, if at all.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6368461.html?display=Breaking+News

* CONGRESS UNLIKELY TO TACKLE NET NEUTRALITY
http://www.benton.org/index.php?q=node/3305

** For more on the bill see http://www.benton.org/index.php?q=node/2173