Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Tauzin-Dingell Up for Vote Soon

Posted by michael on from the congress-is-in-town dept.

An Anonymous Coward writes: "Just received this letter from my ISP, one of the oldest in existence. A study here lays out the basics on the bill and why it's a bad idea. The bill retracts the telecommunications act of '96 which forces the phone giants to share the nation's phone lines (which are in public trust). Looks like it's time to write those pesky congressmen again." Too late to write. Call. Tauzin-Dingell, up for vote on Wednesday, would eliminate all the requirements on the four remaining Baby Bells to play fair with competing telecom providers. "Sure Covad, you can co-locate your DSL equipment in our switching offices - our deregulated rate is only $10,000/day/piece of equipment." It's instant death for all DSL providers except Verizon, SBC, Qwest and BellSouth.

5 of 338 comments (clear)

  1. "I've said it before and I'll say it again..." by Glytch · · Score: 2, Funny

    "Democracy just doesn't work."

  2. Re:What can us Canadians do about this? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    First, you must become the 51st state. Then you must begin drilling for more maple syrup and build the greatest pipeline in the universe to deliver the maple syrup to our doorstep (the lower 48) so that we no longer have to buy syrup for our oversized, syrup-guzzling waffles from the terrorists and their supporters in the Middle East. Finally, outlaw French as a language. Once this is done, then, um, what was the question?

  3. Troll? by tunah · · Score: 2, Funny

    That was no troll, that was a simpsons quote (Kent brockman). I'm sorry, but if you have not seen every simpsons episode at least twice, uncheck 'willing to moderate' ;-)

    --
    Free Java games for your phone: Tontie, Sokoban
  4. What would Brian Boitano do? by Wonko42 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Here's the deal. You guys send over Sale and Pelletier, we'll send in Brian Boitano, and together they'll all kick some major ass and get this thing sorted out. Sound good?

  5. Re:What to do? by hij · · Score: 2, Funny
    Hmmm.. So we'd have a Montana where
    • All land lines are dedicated to DSL and cable modems. All TV's hardwired to game boxen.
    • A pizza delivery joint on every corner, and for each one you can place your order online.
    • The virtual legislature uses slashcode where the bills moderated the highest get passed.
    • Rednecks run around with pickups full of old motherboards in the back.
    • The county linux rodeo is the biggest event of the year.
    • Top flame wars on the online news stations: Free software vs. GPL
    • New state motto: It's not linux, it's GNU/linux.
    • There would be no sales tax and no income tax, and we'd all wonder why our children are illiterate... wait a second...
    • three words: "No more nightlife!"
    --
    Believe nothing -- Buddha