Senate Panel Sets Debate Date On Telecom, DTV Bills

Senate Commerce Committee leaders said that three telecommunications bills and another measure on the transition to digital television will be debated Oct. 19. Two of the telecom measures are designed to address deficiencies in the nation's communications networks that were highlighted in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The Katrina-related measures are: S. 1753, which would promote a voluntary emergency warning system; and S. 1063, which would require Internet telephone companies to provide technology for pinpointing the locations of 911 callers and to create a national plan for upgrading 911. The third telecom measure, S. 967, would require government-created video news releases to note throughout their broadcasts that they were produced by the government (see related story). Senate Commerce Chairman Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, also plans to debate legislation to set a fixed date in 2009 for the DTV transition. A draft has not been released.
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-GAQV1129061756668.html
* Senate Commerce Sets Bills for Markup
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6268995?display=Breaking+News&referral=SUPP
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