tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10908626.post115230866067002901..comments2024-02-10T05:18:09.354-05:00Comments on The Libes Libation: Montgomery County Fights BackDon Libeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12396665796257950441noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10908626.post-1152936608144989682006-07-15T00:10:00.000-04:002006-07-15T00:10:00.000-04:00I wonder what will take more time... for this bill...I wonder what will take more time... for this bill to pass or for the suit by Verizon to settle.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10908626.post-1152843521276236512006-07-13T22:18:00.000-04:002006-07-13T22:18:00.000-04:00Don - FYIJuly 6, 2006 ThursdayCommunications Refor...Don - FYI<BR/><BR/>July 6, 2006 Thursday<BR/><BR/>Communications Reform Bill Gets Fast Tracked<BR/><BR/>In a rarely seen legislative maneuver, the sweeping communications reform bill recently approved by a key Senate committee (TelecomWeb news break, June 30) has been re-designated as a House of Representatives proposal, ostensibly to accelerate the floor voting process during this Congressional session.<BR/><BR/>After three days of markup covering 214 amendments, not only was the Senate's Communications, Consumers' Choice, and Broadband Deployment Act of 2006 renamed the Advanced Telecommunications and Opportunity Reform (ATOR) Act, but the bill's S. 2686 designation also was refiled in the House hopper as H.R. 5252 - the same numerical designation as the smaller, less-comprehensive Communications Opportunity, Promotion, and Enhancement (COPE) Act of 2006. <BR/><BR/>Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), the Senate Commerce chairman who has vowed to get the bill passed but has expressed some concern about its floor vote chances, employed the seldom-used re-numbering/refilling parliamentary technique to speed up Congressional consideration of the massive 135-page, 20,000-word bill that was approved by a 15-7 committee vote last week.<BR/><BR/>As a result of the maneuver, House members will not be required to hold separate hearings on the Senate-originated bill, but instead the two H.R. 5252 proposals can head directly into House-Senate conference committee sessions for federal lawmakers to hammer out terms toward a single piece of legislation acceptable to both bodies. "It is one of the legislative tools that can be used to quicken passage," said Joseph Benckle, a spokesman for the Senate committee.<BR/>-----<BR/><BR/>Maybe the US congress can do what the locals have yet to achive. Free competition!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10908626.post-1152834548028098812006-07-13T19:49:00.000-04:002006-07-13T19:49:00.000-04:00Don, How have the numerous other jurisdictions in...Don, <BR/><BR/>How have the numerous other jurisdictions in the area who have reached agreements with Verizon addressed these issues? How come MC can't replicate their success? Thoughts?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10908626.post-1152713288228457212006-07-12T10:08:00.000-04:002006-07-12T10:08:00.000-04:00Don,Another great post. You are awesome. I admir...Don,<BR/><BR/>Another great post. You are awesome. I admire folks who can distill done complex technical issues down to the basics we need to know in a comprehensible way.<BR/><BR/>I think you are right on target with respect to the following:<BR/><BR/>1) Instead of bringing Verizon internet and phone service under local regulatory control, MC should release Comcast and RCN from these controls in their agreements<BR/><BR/>2) Competition will be much more effective at ensuring quality than MC's toothless cable office<BR/><BR/>3) MC should step back from it defensive posture and enter into genuine negotations (perhaps with a mediatior) to settle the suit NOW and to reach an equitable franchise agreement with Verizon.<BR/><BR/>I'm no fan of large corporations. However, I have been very pleased with the FIOS internet service and am drueling in anticipation of getting the TV service. It will provide me with better quality and more choice at a lower price. Competition will also benefit comcast customers who don't want to switch. Comcast will lower it's rates and improve quality to compete. As for the various satellite providers. They also will have to change their practices to remain competitive.<BR/><BR/>Keep up the good work in keeping us informed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com