III

105TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION S. RES. 86

Expressing the sense of the Senate with respect to telephone access charges

for use of the Internet and the growth of advanced interactive communications networks like the Internet.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

MAY 15, 1997

Mr. ABRAHAM (for himself and Mr. LEAHY) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and

Transportation

RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the Senate with respect to telephone

access charges for use of the Internet and the growth

of advanced interactive communications networks like the

Internet.

Whereas with the enactment of the Telecommunications Act

of 1996 (Public Law 104–104), Congress sought to stimulate through the competitive marketplace the rapid deployment of new communications technologies at the lowest possible cost to customers;

Whereas the Internet is the most noteworthy example of the

development of an advanced communications network,

having expanded from the four linked sites of its precursor network in 1969 to become the first ubiquitous, interactive advanced communications network today;
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SRES 86 IS

Whereas the Internet is a digital electronic environment

where different forms of multimedia flow freely and efficiently;

Whereas over 15,000,000 households are currently connected

to the Internet and 43,000,000 households are expected

to be so connected by the year 2000;

Whereas the Internet is an invaluable tool for personal communications, education, telemedicine, and better integrating the elderly, the disabled, and individuals living in remote locations into the life of the Nation;

Whereas the development of an electronic marketplace over

the Internet will be a competitive stimulus to the national

economy, with the amount of electronic commerce expected to grow to $80,000,000,000 by the year 2000;

Whereas commerce over the Internet will empower consumers

by offering a myriad of options for comparison shopping

information gathering, and purchasing opportunities;

Whereas commerce over the Internet has also proven an important start-up mechanism for small businesses by providing minimal barriers to entry and by acting as a ubiquitous, cost-effective distribution system;

Whereas innovative companies in all economic sectors have

tied their economic future to the continued growth and

success of the Internet;

Whereas the Internet is the medium of choice for electronic

commerce, electronic mail, multimedia, and corporate

Intranets;

Whereas the Internet has succeeded as a result of its responsiveness to technical challenges unencumbered by any

preconceptions imposed by regulation relating to its development; and
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SRES 86 IS

Whereas the imposition of telephone access charges by regulation would inhibit the development of the Internet and

discourage the use of the Internet at a time when the national policy should be to promote the development of advance telecommunications networks such as the Internet:

Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that the

2 telecommunications policy of the United States should

3 support the continued unfettered growth of the Internet

4 by—

5 (1) encouraging greater dialogue between the

6 Local Exchange Carriers and the Internet commu7 nity in the effort to reach a mutually beneficial reso8 lution to the issues relating to connecting to the

9 internet; and

10 (2) encouraging the removal of impediments to

11 the introduction of competition, and in particular, in

12 the provision of new technologies and services to

13 connecting to the internet and other advanced net14 works.

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