Freedom Delayed
from the May 21, 2001 issue of Broadband Week
The so-called Internet Freedom and Broadband Deployment Act may be cooling its heels on Capitol Hill for a while.
After winning narrow passage May 9 from the House Energy and Commerce Committee, the bill to deregulate how the incumbent local exchange carriers can offer broadband data services quickly began encountering political hurdles that promised to slow, if not stall, its passage not only in the House but also the Senate.
The House Judiciary Committee began seeking to hold hearings on the bill--a move opposed by sponsor Billy Tauzin, R-La., who chairs the Energy Committee.
At the same time, Senate Commerce Committee chairman John McCain, R-Ariz., made it clear the bill had little support in that chamber and likely would face amendment.
The end result? Lawmakers on both sides of the bill are indicating they welcome additional time to marshal their forces, a sign that further action could stretch out over the coming months.
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