Round Table
… ON SENATE BILL 1504, THE BROADBAND INVESTMENT AND CONSUMER CHOICE ACT, INTRODUCED BY SENATOR JOHN ENSIGN (R-NV) IN LATE JULY.
At the same time it tackles the policy issues raised by the Ensign bill, Congress needs to finish its work on the DTV transition, so that wireless broadband alternatives to cable and fiber can flourish.
Alliance for Public Technology Policy Director and General Counsel Dan Phythyon
Under this bill, society will benefit from more competition and real choices in broadband. CEA believes that with intense competition and standard interfaces consumers will see new services and devices similar to when manufacturers were freed to offer choices from the standard black rotary telephone.
Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) President and CEO Gary Shapiro
As wireless, landline, cable and satellite technologies converge, it is time for government-managed competition to be replaced with market-based competition, where consumers can get the products and services they want from the companies they choose.
United States Telecom Association President and CEO Walter B. McCormick Jr.
Our position is simple: we want an open, fair marketplace in which all service providers, small or large, can compete equally.We look forward to working with Senator Ensign to ensure that the legislation accomplishes that goal.
RCN Corp. Strategic & External Affairs Vice President Richard Ramlall
This bill takes away most controls and protections that local governments need to monitor and ensure that the communications industry is responsible and responsive to our citizens. This bill eliminates local cable franchising altogether. It cripples our ability as local governments to manage our public rights-of-way and it blocks our efforts to ensure that communications services are available to anyone, not just the chosen few.
Arvada, Colo., Mayor Ken Fellman, lead spokesman for the National League of Cities
