Telecom Reform Legislation

The House draft telecom reform bill's "broad scope" "suggests final passage before the 2006 elections remains an uphill battle," Stanford Washington Research Group said. Because it seems to have support on both sides of the aisle, the bill is a "credible framework for how the final legislation may look," Stanford said. However, complications exist: 1) Provisions on how IP voice, video and data services are regulated could trigger involvement by others in the House such as the Judiciary Committee; 2) Senate Commerce Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) hasn't said what he plans to do on telecom reform; and 3) "Katrina legislation and the budget reconciliation process will complicate movement of telecom bills in the near term." A coalition of consumer and public interest groups said Congress should hold hearings on telecom reform. "Telecommunications legislation has for too long been negotiated behind closed doors," said the 20-group coalition, which includes Consumer Federation of America, Consumers Union, Free Press, Media Access Project and Common Cause. Introduction of the draft bill "should be the first step in an open and transparent legislative process that involves the public in meaningful ways," they said. [see Groups Respond to New Telecommunications Bill]
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