Slashdot Mirror
Overhauled Telecommunications Law Draft
pin_gween writes "ZDNet.com has published info on proposed changes to the telecommunications laws. The U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce committee released a 77-page staff working draft (PDF alert) and is now calling for comments from interested parties. Highlights include: 'The draft defines, for regulatory purposes, broadband Internet transmission services--or BITS--as "a packet-switched service that is offered to the public," regardless of the equipment or protocol used. That puts DSL and cable providers on equal footing... A federal framework for regulating BITS, VoIP and broadband video services...BITS, VoIP and broadband video services must not block their subscribers' access to any content or applications and must allow their subscribers to connect to their services with whichever devices they choose...Recourse for VoIP providers: They're expected to negotiate their own rates with telecommunications companies for use of their wires'"
The only draft I want to hear about is what they have on tap.
Maybe I'm dense but what does this mean? How will this effect the end user? Does this mean that the price of internet service will go down? Maybe who understands the document a little better could explain.
BITS?! Who you callin' BITS?!
I think that was a failure on the part of Chinese intelligence agencies. To support a modernization initiative, they sent some agents over to find out what the deal was with these newfangled computer systems.
Unfortunately, they found a bunch of geeks in their parents' basements, and sent back detailed info on how to recreate that environment. A major effort was instituted to deploy these basements across the country. In order to save costs, they omitted actually digging holes for the basements.
Anything that comes from the government that is 77 pages of regulations should be required to be named:
The Legal Professionals Full Employment Act of 2005