roundtable: Senate Update, 4PM Tuesday, June 13th

roundtable: Senate Update, 4PM Tuesday, June 13th

Senate Update, 4PM Tuesday, June 13th

W. Curtiss Priest (BMSLIB@mitvma.mit.edu)
Tue, 13 Jun 95 16:01:15 EDT 

Message-Id: <9506132016.AA18255@a.cni.org>
Date:         Tue, 13 Jun 95 16:01:15 EDT
From: "W. Curtiss Priest" <BMSLIB@mitvma.mit.edu>
Subject:      Senate Update, 4PM Tuesday, June 13th
To: Telecommunications Policy Roundtable <ROUNDTABLE@CNI.ORG>


I just spoke with a key aid to Senator John Kerry regarding
progress of the Senate bill.

1.  This morning the main topic was whether to allow the Justice
department to have a more spelled out role in looking at entry
of Bellcos into markets.  They already have their own powers --
this was to make antitrust powers part of the act.  The "checklist"
amendment that would have provided them those extra powers was
defeated 57-43.  Kerry's office saw both sides of the issues and
was not concerned about the defeat.

2.  Tomorrow is the Leahy Amendment to have the FCC study the "smut"
problem versus the Exon Amendment to provide explicit control of
the channels and sources.  I asked if they needed support for
the Leahy Amendment and the aid said they thought they were "ok"
on this one -- they expect the Leahy amendment to prevail.  Those
of you in states concerned about this (not MA -- "preaching to
the converted" -- should still convey your feelings to your 
respective senators)

3.  Another issue is whether states that have already provided 
intralateral service using 1 plus the number (not requiring an access 
code for using the local telco for the call) can have this advantage 
grandfathered in states that already provide for it.  The argument by 
the RBOCS is that it gives them an edge until Sprint, etc. competition 
becomes more of a reality.  Kerry's office would appreciate guidance 
on this issue -- it is to be taken up tomorrow, too.

4.  On interoperability the debate is done.  There was a compromise
where the FCC and industry would work together on achieving
interoperability.  Kerry's office seems satisfied with this.

5.  As for cross-ownership, there are provisions to prevent
cable/telco buyouts and there are restrictions on ownership of
radio and TV to cap ownership by any one media provider to 35% of
the total audience.

As for cross-ownership between media and conduits, it appears there
are no restrictions either in this bill, nor from the 1934 Act to
prevent, for example, MCI's recent buying of $2 billion of News Corp.!

This may be an issue for another day.  It isn't in this fight.

6.  The Snowe-Rockefeller amendment providing for special treatment
of education, libraries, health care prevailed over a McCain Amendment
to undo this provision by a vote of 58 to 36

The aid expects the bill to be voted on Thursday night.  They expect
that 70 Senators will vote FOR the bill!

Other than ensuring the Leahy amendment (versus Exon) -- there
appeared to be no other compelling area for public interest people
to call in.

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