Letter from Robert Sachs, President/CEO of the NCTA, to Rep. Billy Tauzin (R-LA), Chairman of the House Commerce Committee.
Re: HR 1542, The Internet Freedom and Broadband Deployment Act of 2001.
Date: April 25, 2001.
Source: House Commerce Committee.

April 25, 2001

The Honorable W. J. “Billy” Tauzin
Chairman, House Energy and Commerce Committee
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC  20515

Dear Mr. Chairman:

Thank you for the opportunity to review “The Internet Freedom and Broadband Deployment Act of 2001.” The National Cable Television Association (“NCTA”) appreciates the commitment of you and Congressman Dingell to the widespread deployment of broadband services through deregulatory policies. NCTA strongly believes that market-based competition is the best way to foster the availability of broadband services to all Americans.  To that end, the cable industry is investing tens of billions of dollars and competing vigorously with DSL, wireless and satellite-delivered high-speed data services.

NCTA remains concerned that a broad rewrite of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 would create regulatory uncertainty, having a negative impact on capital markets and discouraging competitive investment. However, we do not oppose “The Internet Freedom and Broadband Deployment Act of 2001” in its current form.

NCTA would strongly oppose efforts to classify cable Internet services as telecommunications services or otherwise extend common carrier-like regulation, including mandatory access requirements, to cable Internet services and facilities. We appreciate that “The Internet Freedom and Broadband Deployment Act of 2001” does not take such an approach.

Again, many thanks for giving us the opportunity to comment on this legislation.

Sincerely,

Robert Sachs
President & CEO

 cc:  The Honorable John Dingell
        Ranking Minority Member, Committee on Energy and Commerce

        The Honorable Fred Upton
        Chairman, Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet

        The Honorable Ed Markey
        Ranking Minority Member, Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet

        Members, Committee on Energy and Commerce