Democrats to launch effort to rewrite Telecom Act

[Mass]

Largely overdue, but we can be sure that lobbyists will be there again and again.

http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valley/technology/99563-lawmakers-prepare-update-to-communications-act

Lawmakers prepare update to Communications Act
By Gautham Nagesh - 05/24/10 04:49 PM ET
Democratic lawmakers will start developing proposals to update the Communications Act in June, according to a statement from four prominent committee chairmen on Monday.

Reps. Henry Waxman, D-Cali., and Rick Boucher, D-Va., along with Sens. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va. and John Kerry, D-Mass. announced today that they will start the process to update the Communications Act by inviting stakeholders to take part in a series of meetings beginning June.

The Communications Act of 1934 established the Federal Communications Commission and established its jurisdiction over radio and wireless communications. The 1996 Telecommunications Act overhauled the original bill and attempted to bring it up to speed with modern telecommunications technologies.

Now Democrats will attempt once again to update the Act, likely with an eye towards determining exactly which regulatory body has jurisdiction over the various aspects of the Internet. The FCC's authority to regulate broadband access was called into question by an April federal court decision ruling the Commission had overstepped its bounds when attmepting to enforce net neutrailty on an Internet service provider.

“Our economic future depends upon getting all Americans connected to broadband, and that cannot happen unless the FCC acts fast. The 1996 Act took more than five years to enact, and the most recent attempt to rewrite the law produced no results," said S. Derek Turner, research director for the non-profit Free Press.

"We cannot wait for Congress to act to protect consumers and carry out the National Broadband Plan. We hope that the public will have a seat at the table during this process, and that any draft legislation will put the needs of Main Street before the demands of Wall Street."

[Inuca]

1. This may get REALLY interesting

Probably not much in the limelight, at least for quite a while. But I hope that they get to it and doing a good job at it, it's very, very important. Waxman, Kerry, and Rockefeller being involved is a very good sign (I am not familiar with the other guy from the House).

[FrenchieCat]

2. I want to see that happen, but at the same time I am real nervous

of how the MSM will respond to this. They already don't like this admin.....
and this is gonna set their underwear on fire.......
United Citizen will probably play a starring role in making sure
none of this ever gets anywhere! :(