Date: 2006-06-08
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. I rise today to share my thoughts on H.R. 5252. the Communications Opportunity. Promotion. and Enhancement Act of 2006. Similar to the 1996 telecommunications law that deregulated the phone and cable industries. I have examined this bill with the interests of my constituents in mind and a deep respect for the advancement of technological innovation. As a result of this I have decided to vote in favor of H.R. 5252 as the bill provides the best we here in the House of Representatives could wish for with regard to the increased distribution of affordable cable services and a continued support of increased telecommunications innovation. As with any complex bill. I do not agree with every aspect of the measure. however. I do feel that the measure provides the tools necessary to facilitate increased video choice for my district. Streamlining the video franchise process -will help accelerate competition in the video market. * Constituents within my congressional district are crying out for increased competition and affordable cable rates and it is impossible for me to disregard their concerns by voting against this. bill. According to the Federal Communications Commission. roughly 1.5 percent of markets have headtohead competition for cable services. Increased competition amongst cable providers will provide my constituents wi*th consumer choice that is currently lacking. Consumers win when telecom carriers and cable operators compete head to head. A multitude of service. providers. each committed to indiscriminately serving my constituents regardless of income levels holds great promise for lower prices. better service and increased programming content and diverse ownership opportunities for minority and womenowned businesses. Lastly. much has been said regarding the issue of net neutrality. the notion that broadband service providers should operate their networks in a nondiscriminatory manner. While I agree wholeheartedly with this notion. I also feel that the government should not act too prematurely in intervening with the growth and innovation of the internet. The net neutrality bill .presented before us tonight would impose a nondiscriminate requirement on the internet backbone. For years. the internet has blossomed. thanks in large part due the handsoff approach the federal government has taken. Currently I am satisfied with the language captured in H.R. 5252. The bill gives the FCC strong authority to protect web access and internet applications by allowing the FCC to. enforce its broadband principles that ensure consumers are entitled to: (1) Access the lawful internet content of their choice. (2) Run applications and services of their choice. subject to the needs of law enforcement. (3) Connect their choice of legal devices that do not harm the network. and (4) Competition among network providers. application and service providers. and content providers. While I do not feel that additional action above and beyond the bills current language at this time. I do support revisiting the issue in the event discriminatory conduct amongst internet service providers in the future.