Until recently, that involved all sides running radio and television ads urging the public to call their representatives about the bill. It has also led to high-level Congressional lobbying. The Bell companies continue to take the high road, saying the initiative is about giving America a solid high-speed data mandate. We've never had a national broadband policy, says Ed Young, senior vice president for international and federal government relations at Verizon Communications. We believe it's like a national highway system.
Opponents counter that the bill has a simpler, more insidious motivation.
That belief spurred Covad and other competitive providers to push to prevent the bill from escaping the House. Even though not much support exists in the Senate, one can never predict Congress, says Oxman. Other opponents were just as cautious. The battle has also forged some unprecedented alliances. The lobbying against this bill has come from large companies and public interest groups.