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





Begin forwarded message:

From: Adina Levin <alevin@xxxxxxxxxx>
Date: May 27, 2005 11:51:26 AM EDT
To: dave@xxxxxxxxxx
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





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