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�,�-�o TELECOM from page 3 ......................................... may have for our locai communities, consumers phone or video, offered by their competitors. and competition," Markey said. Virginia Democrat Rick Boucher, a member of Upton's subcommittee, said some Internet com- The negotiations to write a third draft bill are panies, including Google Inc. and Yahoo Inc., also expected to focus in large part on whether fran- are concerned that broadband providers could chising rules should apply to new broadband video charge them a toll to reach Web users. services. The Bell companies are beginning to offer such features over their fiber-optic networks There is widespread support for a"Net neutral- and compete head-to-head with cable television ity" provision, but members are still debating what operators. exceptions should apply to ensure that broadband providers can keep their nefinrorks secure, prevent Aides to several committee members said users from hogging bandwidth and offer services there is general consensus that new broadband such as spam filters. video services should be subject to a national franchise agreement, rather than the local fran- Democrats are also pushing for language that chise agreements that now govern cable compa- would require broadband providers to make high- nies. speed Internet access widely available, and not just roll out their services in lucrative urban and The Bells say that being forced to negotiate suburban markets. franchise agreements on a city-by-city or county- by-county basis could delay the roll out of new Source: CQ Today broadband video services. This story was reprinfed with permission. But lawmakers are still arguing over how to Author: Joelle Tess/er, CQ staff, with contri- define broadband vide> service and under what butions from Amol Sharma. conditions a national ftanchise should be allowed. Members also are debating whether cable N operators should also be able to obtain a national franchise in certain circumstances. LOOKING FOR CALIFORNIA'S BEST TO FILL A POSITION IN YOUR CITY? "There is a parity issue here that we are trying ►Nestern City magazine's job opportunity to resolve," Pickering said. section is the source for job seekers looking In addition, Democrats want to ensure that for positions in local govemment. According municipalities, which fear losing their franchising to our reader survey, the job opportunity powers, would still be able to require video opera- section is the best read section of our tors to provide channels for public, educational magazine! and government use and communications net- When you place an ad in Western City works for police officers, firefighters and other magazine, it witl be posted at no additional local officials. charge on our website, which receives over Democrats also are pushing for tougher 80,000 hits per month. language on "Net neutrality" -- a stipulation that Call to place your recruitment ad today! broadband providers cannot block customers We Have What You Need from accessing certain Web sites and services. (g00) 262-1801 or visit our website at Democrats have warned that without such protec- W�,Westerncity.com tions, broadband companies could prevent cus- tomers from accessing online services, such as Visit ihe League's Official Website--www.cacities.org PRIORITY FOCUS - PAGE 5 December 9, 2005 - Issue #47