Broadcast flags pass Committee markup, net neutrality to be voted on tomorrow.

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Ethan Ackerman <eackerma () u washington edu>
Date: June 27, 2006 5:02:59 PM EDT
To: Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>, David Farber <dave () farber net>
Subject: Broadcast flags pass Committee markup, net neutrality to be  
voted on tomorrow.

As the markup of the Senate's telecom reform bill wraps up another
day, the controversial broadcast and audio flag provisions made it
through committee mark-up unscathed, lending strength to fears that it
will be law before the year's end.  'Net Neutrality' amendments
escaped attention for yet another day, but, according to Chairman
Stevens, will be voted on tomorrow morning.

The Senate Commerce Committee has closed that portion of the mammoth
bill that contains the broadcast and audio flags, and no amendments
were offered to remove them.  The only Senator who publicly expressed
strong opposition to the flags, Sen. Sununu of NH, withdrew his
amendments.  The Senator did express an intent to bring up the issue
again before the whole Senate, but as it stands now, the flags are in
the bill.

Even though this is a very important step, the bill, S. 2686, still
has to pass the full committee after all amendments are offered, and
then pass the full Senate and House. (And the President has to sign,
or at least not veto, it...)

Minimal hearing details here:

http://commerce.senate.gov/public/index.cfm? 
FuseAction=Hearings.Hearing&Hearing_ID=1778


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