Senate Telecom Bill To Be Broader Than House Draft Counterpart

SENATE TELECOM BILL TO BE BROADER THAN HOUSE DRAFT COUNTERPART
[SOURCE: Technology Daily, AUTHOR: David Hatch]
Senate Commerce Chairman Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, is crafting telecommunications legislation that is much broader in scope than a House counterpart floated this week. He is targeting the week of April 24 for a committee vote on the upcoming measure. The House bill focuses on video-franchising relief for the Bell telecommunications firms and "network neutrality" safeguards intended to prevent telecom and cable companies from rigidly controlling content on their high-speed Internet pipes. In addition to those issues, the Senate version would tackle reform of the universal service program that subsidizes telecom rates in rural and underprivileged areas. The bill also would let municipalities offer wireless broadband and tap unused broadcast television spectrum to provide broadband service. "Indecency" over the airwaves and media ownership are not expected to be included but could emerge as amendments.
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-RHWT1143756614125.html