Excellent bit of telecom / tech policy sneaks onto HB789 in the Texas Senate

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Adina Levin <alevin () alevin com>
Date: May 27, 2005 11:51:26 AM EDT
To: dave () farber net
Subject: Excellent bit of telecom / tech policy sneaks onto HB789 in  
the Texas Senate


Here is a tip about a superb piece of technology policy that was  
added as an amendment to  HB789, a telecom deregulation bill, on the  
Texas Senate Floor. (This is the bill where the House version  
includes, and the Senate version omits, a ban on city-supported  
internet services).

Amendment #3 by Senator Estes prohibits carriers from blocking third- 
party internet services. The amendment does not ban optional  
filtering services.

Some internet service providers have started to block third-party  
internet telephony services: http://advancedippipeline.com/60400413

As the incumbent phone and cable companies roll out more bundled  
internet, telephone, video, and other services, it will be  
increasingly tempting for them to use their control over the wire to  
start to assert control over the free market for third-party internet  
services.

This amendment helps to preserve the innovative free market for third- 
party internet services.

We hope it survives the Texas conference committee process, and  
spreads elsewhere.

http://savemuniwireless.org/blog/000896.html


- Adina

Adina Levin
SaveMuniWireless.org
EFF-Austin
512-632-6829





-------------------------------------
You are subscribed as lists-ip () insecure org
To manage your subscription, go to
 http://v2.listbox.com/member/?listname=ip

Archives at: http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/