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Thomas Search

Science & Technology

Science & Technology

Recent changes in federal regulation and court decisions have altered the legal protections against discrimination in access to the internet. As a result, some internet service providers now see the potential to profit by providing favored treatment to some internet content providers, the same way retailers charge manufacturers for prominent product displays in their stores. Such discrimination among internet content providers would forever change the open, vibrant competition based now on the appeal of internet content and would deny consumers the right to choose internet content freely. 

In the 109th Congress, the House considered the Communications Opportunity, Promotion and Enforcement ("COPE") Act. Two amendments specifically presented the issue of net neutrality. One clarified that antitrust laws applied to internet service providers, which would provide modest protection against discrimination among internet content providers. I voted for that amendment, which passed by a vote of 353 to 68. Congressman Ed Markey offered a more ambitious amendment that would have specifically required net neutrality by internet service providers, reinstating the previous regulatory protection to content providers and consumers. I voted for that amendment also, but the amendment failed by a vote of 152 to 269. Finally, I voted against the COPE Act for a variety of reasons, but prominent among those reasons was the failure to include provisions to protect net neutrality. House in teh 109th Congress and was sent to the Senate where there has been no further action.  

In the current Congress, the House Energy and Commerce Telecommunications Subcommittee has listed net neutrality as one of its topics to be considered. In addition, a bill has been introduced in the House, the Internet Freedom Preservation Act, which would establish certain requirements for broadband service providers regarding net neutrality duties.

In 2003, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to relax media ownership rules. That decision would have enabled large companies to buy more television stations and own a newspaper and a broadcast outlet in the same city. This decision was a significant blow to the basic democratic values of diversity, competition in media and media that is locally owned and managed. These changes never went into effect thanks to a provision in the FY2004 Consolidated Appropriations bill and a 2004 Court of Appeals decision (Prometheus Radio Project vs. Federal Communications Commission) challenging aspects of the FCC decision.
 
On December 18, 2007, the FCC voted again to relax media ownership rules. The new rules allow for, in the 20 largest local markets, a major daily newspaper to own a television station or radio station. In certain cases, it could allow for these mergers in smaller markets as well.
 
In response, I have cosponsored the Media Ownership Act of 2007, which would require the FCC to publish any proposed changes to media ownership rules at least 90 days before taking a vote; requires the FCC to hold a public comment period of at least 60 days; and respond to those comments within 30 days. In addition, this legislation would establish an independent panel on Women and Minority Ownership of Broadcast Media to make recommendations on specific rules to encourage female and minority ownership. The requirements in this legislation would be retroactive to any attempts to change media ownership rules after October 1, 2007.
 
I am a strong proponent of locally owned media and competition and diversity in this industry, and I will continue to work to see that these principles are protected.
On February 17, 2009, the nation's television broadcast will switch from analog signal to digital. The DTV Transition will free up airwaves for public safety communications and will also give television viewers a clearer picture and more program choices.
 
All analog televisions receiving over-the-air signals through rabbit ears or a rooftop antenna will stop receiving programming unless your television set is plugged into a special digital-to-analog converter box. These converter boxes will be sold at retail stores and online. The federal government has a coupon program that will offset a portion of the purchasing cost for the converter boxes. If your television is connected to cable, satellite, or other pay television services, you will not need a converter box. Additionally, you will not need a converter box if you have a television with a digital tuner.
 
Coupon Program
Beginning January 1, 2008, you may request up to two $40 coupons per household to be used toward buying certain converter boxes. The coupons expire 90 days after they are issued. If you have questions about the coupon program or would like to request a coupon, please contact the National Telecommunications and Information Administration at 1-888-DTV-2009 or visit www.dtv2009.gov.       
 
For more information about the DTV Transition and what you need to know to prepare for it, please visit the Federal Communication Commission's website http://www.dtv.gov or call 1-888-225-5322.

Broadband internet services allow customers to receive large quantities of information at faster speeds. Access to high-speed internet services allows for a wide range of educational, cultural, recreational, telemedicine, and economic development. The U.S. ranks 15th in the world in per-capita broadband access. 

Unfortunately, rural areas have difficulty receiving these broadband services due to low population density, topographical barriers, and geographical distances. 
 
On November 13, 2007, the House passed the Broadband Census of America Act, which would require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to complete an annual assessment and report on the development of broadband service capability. The FCC would collect information on types of technology used to provide broadband service, the bandwidth service tiers used, and the number of business and residential subscribers in the area.  It requires the National Technology Information Administration (NTIA) to develop a broadband inventory map that shows the geographic extent of this information. This legislation would help show where federal support for broadband service capability needs to be targeted. This bill passed the House by a voice vote and now goes to the Senate for further consideration.
 
I am a cosponsor of the Broadband Deployment Acceleration Act which would give a tax credit for companies that install high-speed broadband networks. This legislation only provides tax credit based on broadband speeds and not on particular technologies or telecommunications companies. This tax credit will expire in 2010 in an attempt to get companies to deploy broadband quickly and efficiently.
 
I will continue to support the development of broadband services in North Carolina and throughout the country.