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Congress' broadband battles

A reader's guide to various provisions of the telecommunications bills currently before Congress.

Declan McCullagh Former Senior Writer
Declan McCullagh is the chief political correspondent for CNET. You can e-mail him or follow him on Twitter as declanm. Declan previously was a reporter for Time and the Washington bureau chief for Wired and wrote the Taking Liberties section and Other People's Money column for CBS News' Web site.
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Declan McCullagh
4 min read

Congress' broadband battles

By staff, CNET News.com
Published: June 28, 2006, 7:34 PM PST

Politicians are busy overhauling federal telecommunications laws for the first time since 1996, and there's zero consensus so far on controversial topics like Net neutrality, copy protection and Web censorship.

To help clear things up, CNET News.com has prepared a reader's guide to various provisions of the Communications, Consumer's Choice and Broadband Deployment Act (that's what it's called in the Senate) and the Communications Opportunity, Promotion and Enhancement Act (its name in the House).

The full House of Representatives voted on its version June 8, and on June 28, a Senate committee cleared its version for a floor vote, which could happen at any time. But because the bills are different, they'll have to go before a conference committee before a final version is negotiated.

Net neutrality
Senate: A Senate committee rejected proposed Net neutrality regulations by a tie vote, 11 to 11, on June 28. Democrats are backing extensive Internet regulations, which Republicans largely oppose. One Democratic senator, Ron Wyden, has pledged to block the bill from coming to a vote unless Net neutrality regulations are inserted. House: The House voted by 269-152 on June 8 to reject extensive Net neutrality regulations backed by Democrats and technology companies. Republicans voted against the regulations by a 20-to-1 margin. Final: Nothing yet.
Broadcast flag
Senate: A Senate committee approved on June 27 a proposal requiring audio and video broadcast flags. House: The telecommunications bill the House approved on June 8 does not include a broadcast flag provision. Final: Nothing yet.
Municipal broadband
Senate: A Senate committee approved the telecommunications bill's existing language on municipal broadband without amendments on June 27. That language says no state may prohibit its own municipalities from offering broadband services. Before a municipality may offer its own broadband service, it must publish a 30-day notice and solicit bids from the private sector. But it's not required to accept any of the bids. House: A measure approved by the full House on June 8 is not as regulatory. It merely says municipalities must not grant special regulatory treatment to broadband providers that it owns or controls. Final: Nothing yet.
Web labeling
Senate: A Senate committee approved an amendment on June 27 that requires Webmasters of sexually explicit sites to post labels or face 5-year prison terms. House: The telecommunications bill that the House approved on June 8 does not include mandatory Web labeling. Final: Nothing yet.
Net taxes
Senate: A Senate committee approved an amendment on June 28 that would prohibit state and local governments from levying Internet access taxes. House: The telecommunications bill that the House approved on June 8 does not include a prohibition on Internet access taxes. Final: Nothing yet.

Congress' broadband battles

By staff, CNET News.com
Published: June 28, 2006, 7:34 PM PST

Politicians are busy overhauling federal telecommunications laws for the first time since 1996, and there's zero consensus so far on controversial topics like Net neutrality, copy protection and Web censorship.

To help clear things up, CNET News.com has prepared a reader's guide to various provisions of the Communications, Consumer's Choice and Broadband Deployment Act (that's what it's called in the Senate) and the Communications Opportunity, Promotion and Enhancement Act (its name in the House).

The full House of Representatives voted on its version June 8, and on June 28, a Senate committee cleared its version for a floor vote, which could happen at any time. But because the bills are different, they'll have to go before a conference committee before a final version is negotiated.

Net neutrality
Senate: A Senate committee rejected proposed Net neutrality regulations by a tie vote, 11 to 11, on June 28. Democrats are backing extensive Internet regulations, which Republicans largely oppose. One Democratic senator, Ron Wyden, has pledged to block the bill from coming to a vote unless Net neutrality regulations are inserted. House: The House voted by 269-152 on June 8 to reject extensive Net neutrality regulations backed by Democrats and technology companies. Republicans voted against the regulations by a 20-to-1 margin. Final: Nothing yet.
Broadcast flag
Senate: A Senate committee approved on June 27 a proposal requiring audio and video broadcast flags. House: The telecommunications bill the House approved on June 8 does not include a broadcast flag provision. Final: Nothing yet.
Municipal broadband
Senate: A Senate committee approved the telecommunications bill's existing language on municipal broadband without amendments on June 27. That language says no state may prohibit its own municipalities from offering broadband services. Before a municipality may offer its own broadband service, it must publish a 30-day notice and solicit bids from the private sector. But it's not required to accept any of the bids. House: A measure approved by the full House on June 8 is not as regulatory. It merely says municipalities must not grant special regulatory treatment to broadband providers that it owns or controls. Final: Nothing yet.
Web labeling
Senate: A Senate committee approved an amendment on June 27 that requires Webmasters of sexually explicit sites to post labels or face 5-year prison terms. House: The telecommunications bill that the House approved on June 8 does not include mandatory Web labeling. Final: Nothing yet.
Net taxes
Senate: A Senate committee approved an amendment on June 28 that would prohibit state and local governments from levying Internet access taxes. House: The telecommunications bill that the House approved on June 8 does not include a prohibition on Internet access taxes. Final: Nothing yet.