On Nov 10, 2005, at 5:56 PM, bmanning@vacation.karoshi.com wrote:
Begin forwarded message:
From: Brett Glass <brett@lariat.org> Date: November 9, 2005 10:43:40 AM EST
Here's the latest draft of the Internet regulation bill, dated November 3rd. Note that, like earlier versions, it subjects all ISPs and VoIP providers to intensive Federal regulation and requires them to register before providing service. It also pre-empts state and local control over rights of way. For the draft text, see
http://energycommerce.house.gov/108/news/11032005_Broadband.pdf
--Brett Glass
FYI, /. or (as Robert quotes "News for Goobers") <grin> has the text of Vint's letter regarding this issue. Note that Vint seems less than enthused about the Bill (although it is not clear he is talking about the exact same Bill). http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/11/10/2351249&from=rss Did anyone else read the part about giving every provider access to the rights of way? Woohoo! I am going to bury some fiber now. I suspect the section regarding nondiscriminatory access could have been worded better. Half the text is repeated. Are they paid by the word you think? -----snip----- (a) NONDISCRIMINATORY ACCESS.—A utility shall provide a BITS provider, BIT provider, or broadband video service provider with rates, terms, and conditions for access to any pole, duct, conduit, or right-of-way owned or controlled by such utility that are nondiscriminatory as compared to the rates, terms, and conditions for such ac- cess provided to any telecommunications carrier, cable op- erator, or other BITS provider, BIT provider, or broadband video service provider. A BITS provider, BIT provider, or broadband video service provider shall provide a cable television system, a telecommunications carrier, or any other BITS provider, BIT provider, or broadband video service provider with rates, terms, and conditions for access to any pole, duct, conduit, or right-of-way owned or controlled by that provider that are nondiscriminatory as compared to the rates, terms, and conditions for such access provided to any telecommunications carrier, cable operator, or other BITS provider, BIT provider, or broadband video service provider. ----end snip-----