In an effort to bring telecom laws up to date with the Internet age, two Democratic legislators told news media Monday that they would begin a process to modernize that haven't been touched 1996.
Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV of West Virginia, chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, and Representative Henry A. Waxman of California, chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, issued a joint statement that outlined their plans meetings in June to examine how the Communications Act meets the current needs of consumers, the telecommunications industry and the FCC (News - Alert), the Washington Post reported.
The issue came into focus in April when a federal appeals court unanimously tossed out the FCC's August 2008 "cease and desist" order against Comcast (News - Alert), a number of heavyweights in telecom and tech weighed in.
In response, the FCC announced a plan to reclassify broadband Internet service, which is now lightly regulated as an information service - in accordance with out-of-date laws. Under the change, it would be classified as a telecommunications service, and allow the FCC to more easily enforce net neutrality rules, according to reports.
Marisa Torrieri is a TMCnet Web editor, covering IP hardware and mobility, including IP phones, smartphones, fixed-mobile convergence and satellite technology. She also compiles and regularly contributes to TMCnet's gadgets and satellite e-Newsletters. To read more of Marisa's articles, please visit her columnist page.
Edited by Marisa Torrieri