IP: Bells attempt to control the Internet

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

> Date: Tue, 1 May 2001 05:22:45 -0400
> From: Gene Gaines <gene.gaines () gainesgroup com>
> To: farber () cis upenn edu
> Subject: Bells attempt to control the Internet
>
> SOS: House Telecom Subcommittee Approves Bill Regulating VoIP Applications
>
> Need your Help to Defeat HR 1542 and Keep Internet Communications
> Regulation Free  ( http://pulver.com/hr1542 )
>
>
> Hi There,
>
> The "Tauzin-Dingell Broadband Bill" incorporates for the first time
> Internet applications and broadband in the legacy telecom regulatory
> framework. The bill will make it illegal to offer IP based voice services
> over the Internet and give the Bells hooks to kill off remaining broadband
> competitors.
>
> The US House of Representatives Telecommunications Subcommitte approved "HR
> 1542" on Thursday, April 26th.  Mark-up by the full Commerce Committee is
> expected as early as Wednesday, May 2nd.
>
> The Internet has prospered precisely because applications remained beyond
> the reach of regulators.  The Bell companies have used regulatory means to
> build monopoly advantage in virtually all areas of telecommunications. The
> Bells have so far failed to monopolize Internet applications, such as:
> email, world wide web, VoIP, ecommerce, streaming, peer-to-peer networking,
> and others as yet unknown.
>
> The entire bill starting with its title "Internet Freedom and Broadband
> Deployment Act" is remarkably disingenuous.  The bill ends Internet
> freedom and removes any hope for broadband deployment.  Existing telecom
> regulations make no mention of the "Internet".  The bill which takes
> the form of amending existing regulations specifically uses the word
> "Internet" 50 times.  The Bell companies have served and continue to serve
> as the dominant obstacle to broadband deployment.  The Bells have
> longstanding efforts to protect their lucrative business selling 1970's T1
> technology from competition.    Bell efforts to deploy DSL appear only in
> areas where a competitor exists.  Their deployments slow, customer service
> degrades, and prices rise as soon as they weaken or kill off competition.
>
> The provisions of the bill include:
>
> - Incorporates Internet applications in framework established by
>   Telecom Act of 1934
>    - Defines for the first time meaning of term "Internet"
>    - Defines for the first time meaning of term "Internet Access"
>    - Defines for the first time meaning of broadband "High Speed Data
>      Service"
>
> - Makes voice applications of Internet illegal
>
> - Eliminates limitations on Bell entry into long distance data service
>   business
>
> - Eliminates requirements on Bells to resell broadband related services
>
> In other words, it removes all regulatory restraint on the Bell monopolies
> leaving no prospects for competition.  No matter how the Bells might want
> to spin the story, actions speak clearly that monopolies produce high
> prices for substandard services.   Long distance, wireless, and Internet
> access services have improved in quality with declining prices only to
> extent competition existed.  The Bell monopoly controlled local service
> has not improved even given increasing prices since the break up of AT&T
> in 1984.
>
> A year ago we rallied and as an industry and helped stop HR 1291.  We can
> do it again. WE MUST STOP HR 1542!
>
> Applications of the Internet should remain unregulated, with no exceptions
> for voice applications and services.
>
> Contact your representative in Congress via the switchboard
> at: +1.202.224.3121
>
> Please visit: ( http://www.house.gov ) and
> ( http://www.house.gov/writerep ) to help you locate the name and email
> address of your Representative.
>
> Please let them know that:
> -  "The Internet Freedom and Broadband Deployment Act" does neither!
>
> - If they open the door to regulating any Internet service,
> it will set a terrible precedent.
>
> - Using the Internet for voice communications is a good thing and should
> not be regulated or taxed. Consumers will be hurt and only the old
> monopoly telephone companies will benefit.
>
> - Internet voice services are used mostly by low income people for
> international communications, as a substitute for vastly inflated
> international long-distance calls.
>
> -This is a new source of privacy concerns, as companies pry apart traffic
> streams to determine what's "voice".
>
> Please feel free to forward this message to anybody that can help STOP HR
> 1542!
>
> Please contact your local media outlets and inform them about HR 1542 and
> that passing it would be a mistake. In order to help stop HR 1542 in the
> House, we need to get as much Local and National attention focused on
> this issue as possible.
>
> [The above from Jeff Pulver <jeff () pulver com>]
>
>
> Gene Gaines
> gene.gaines () gainesgroup com
> Sterling, Virginia



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