Dingell's Remarks On Telecom Bill

DINGELL'S REMARKS ON TELECOM BILL DRAW MIXED REACTION FROM BELLS
[SOURCE: Technology Daily 11/9, AUTHOR: David Hatch]
Speaking to reporters a day after Democrats won control of the House, incoming House Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell (D-MI) on Wednesday outlined several issues he plans to tackle, including reform of the universal service fund. But he was noncommittal about whether the creation of national video franchises -- a key tenet of this year's bill and the main reason for the Bells' support -- is on his agenda. He opposed this year's deregulatory bill -- passed by the House in June -- that was strongly backed by AT&T, BellSouth and Verizon Communications. Rep Dingell tried unsuccessfully to amend the House bill with provisions requiring new video providers to offer their services within entire communities. The latter move put him at odds with Bell companies opposed to such requirements. Under local franchise regulations, cable operators have been required to make sure their systems reach all members of communities. Rep Dingell said he also wants to re-examine the need for so-called network neutrality regulations, which would prohibit high-speed Internet providers from potentially blocking or degrading competing content sent over their networks. On a related note, Dingell appeared to backtrack from remarks Wednesday to reporters that the FCC should delay voting on the AT&T- BellSouth merger until 2007 so his panel could exert oversight. "Well, first of all, I've not said that it should be delayed," he told the CNBC cable network, according to a transcript circulated by Bell companies. "I've said that it should be looked at and looked into carefully by the agencies responsible for that."
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