House Approves Internet Access Bill

The House of Representatives, by a 273-157 vote, this week adopted the CWA-supported Internet Freedom and Broadband Deployment Act, H.R. 1542, also known as the Tauzin-Dingell bill.

CWA President Morton Bahr had urged lawmakers to support the measure, stressing that it will boost the high tech economy and "create hundreds of thousands of jobs as cable, telephone and wireless companies compete to build out their broadband networks."

"This bill enables telephone companies to compete with cable companies under the same rules in high-speed data markets, and that competition will produce lower prices and more consumer choice, as well as good jobs," Bahr said.

In a letter to House members on Monday, Bahr included a copy of a new report by the Alliance for Public Technology, a coalition of public interest groups and individuals, that documented the social and economic benefits that result from an increased deployment of broadband capability.

Telemedicine, advanced services for the hearing impaired, mobile broadband services and tools for rural community development and distance learning for all citizens are among the benefits that are possible through broadband technology, according to the APT study.

H.R. 1542 is an important step toward universal, affordable broadband networks and will enable our nation to deliver the promise of the Information Superhighway to all Americans, Bahr said. The measure also includes a timetable to provide advanced Internet services to rural and other now under served areas.

CWA also ran radio spots in Washington, D.C. this week urging support for Tauzin-Dingell.