|
PureBytes Links
Trading Reference Links
|
Colin West sent this to the list this morning, when the server
was down. The subject bill appears to be a genuine legislative effort,
however misguided. Keep in mind that most legislators ignore
email from constituents; a paper letter, written in your own
words, sent in an envelope (not faxed) is the only way to
register an opinion with them.
FWIW,
--
jimo@xxxxxxxxxx
maintainer of the omega list
omega-list-request@xxxxxxxxxx
-------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Jeff Pulver [mailto:jeff@xxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Monday, April 30, 2001 5:53 PM
To: IP Communications Industry
Subject: SOS: House Telecom Subcommittee Approves Bill Regulating VoIP
Applications
SOS: House Telecom Subcommittee Approves Bill Regulating VoIP Applications
Need your Help to Defeat HR 1542 and Keep Internet Communications Regulation
Free ( http://pulver.com/hr1542 )
Hi There,
The "Tauzin-Dingell Broadband Bill" incorporates for the first time Internet
applications and broadband in the legacy telecom regulatory framework. The
bill will make it illegal to offer IP based voice services over the Internet
and give the Bells hooks to kill off remaining broadband competitors.
The US House of Representatives Telecommunications Subcommitte approved "HR
1542" on Thursday, April 26th. Mark-up by the full Commerce Committee is
expected as early as Wednesday, May 2nd.
The Internet has prospered precisely because applications remained beyond
the reach of regulators. The Bell companies have used regulatory means to
build monopoly advantage in virtually all areas of telecommunications. The
Bells have so far failed to monopolize Internet applications, such as:
email, world wide web, VoIP, ecommerce, streaming, peer-to-peer networking,
and others as yet unknown.
The entire bill starting with its title "Internet Freedom and Broadband
Deployment Act" is remarkably disingenuous. The bill ends Internet freedom
and removes any hope for broadband deployment. Existing telecom regulations
make no mention of the "Internet". The bill which takes the form of
amending existing regulations specifically uses the word "Internet" 50
times. The Bell companies have served and continue to serve as the dominant
obstacle to broadband deployment. The Bells have longstanding efforts to
protect their lucrative business selling 1970's T1 technology from
competition. Bell efforts to deploy DSL appear only in areas where a
competitor exists. Their deployments slow, customer service degrades, and
prices rise as soon as they weaken or kill off competition.
The provisions of the bill include:
* Incorporates Internet applications in framework established by
Telecom Act of 1934
* Defines for the first time meaning of term "Internet"
* Defines for the first time meaning of term "Internet Access"
* Defines for the first time meaning of broadband "High Speed Data
Service"
* Makes voice applications of Internet illegal
* Eliminates limitations on Bell entry into long distance data service
business
* Eliminates requirements on Bells to resell broadband related services
In other words, it removes all regulatory restraint on the Bell monopolies
leaving no prospects for competition. No matter how the Bells might want to
spin the story, actions speak clearly that monopolies produce high prices
for substandard services. Long distance, wireless, and Internet access
services have improved in quality with declining prices only to extent
competition existed. The Bell monopoly controlled local service has not
improved even given increasing prices since the break up of AT&T in 1984.
A year ago we rallied and as an industry and helped stop HR 1291. We can do
it again. WE MUST STOP HR 1542!
Applications of the Internet should remain unregulated, with no exceptions
for voice applications and services.
Contact your representative in Congress via the switchboard
at: +1.202.224.3121
Please visit: ( http://www.house.gov ) and
( http://www.house.gov/writerep ) to help you locate the name and email
address of your Representative.
Please let them know that:
* "The Internet Freedom and Broadband Deployment Act" does neither!
* If they open the door to regulating any Internet service, it will set a
terrible precedent.
* Using the Internet for voice communications is a good thing and should not
be regulated or taxed. Consumers will be hurt and only the old monopoly
telephone companies will benefit.
* Internet voice services are used mostly by low income people for
international communications, as a substitute for vastly inflated
international long-distance calls.
* This is a new source of privacy concerns, as companies pry apart traffic
streams to determine what's "voice".
Please feel free to forward this message to anybody that can help
STOP HR 1542! Please contact your local media outlets and inform
them about HR 1542 and that passing it would be a mistake. In order
to help stop HR 1542 in the House, we need to get as much Local and
National attention focused on this issue as possible.
Kind regards,
Jeff
|