[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 86 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 86

  Expressing the sense of the Senate with respect to telephone access 
charges for use of the Internet and the growth of advanced interactive 
               communications networks like the Internet.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 15, 1997

    Mr. Abraham (for himself and Mr. Leahy) submitted the following 
 resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
                           and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Expressing the sense of the Senate with respect to telephone access 
charges for use of the Internet and the growth of advanced interactive 
               communications networks like the Internet.

Whereas with the enactment of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (Public Law 
        104-104), Congress sought to stimulate through the competitive 
        marketplace the rapid deployment of new communications technologies at 
        the lowest possible cost to customers;
Whereas the Internet is the most noteworthy example of the development of an 
        advanced communications network, having expanded from the four linked 
        sites of its precursor network in 1969 to become the first ubiquitous, 
        interactive advanced communications network today;
Whereas the Internet is a digital electronic environment where different forms 
        of multimedia flow freely and efficiently;
Whereas over 15,000,000 households are currently connected to the Internet and 
        43,000,000 households are expected to be so connected by the year 2000;
Whereas the Internet is an invaluable tool for personal communications, 
        education, telemedicine, and better integrating the elderly, the 
        disabled, and individuals living in remote locations into the life of 
        the Nation;
Whereas the development of an electronic marketplace over the Internet will be a 
        competitive stimulus to the national economy, with the amount of 
        electronic commerce expected to grow to $80,000,000,000 by the year 
        2000;
Whereas commerce over the Internet will empower consumers by offering a myriad 
        of options for comparison shopping information gathering, and purchasing 
        opportunities;
Whereas commerce over the Internet has also proven an important start-up 
        mechanism for small businesses by providing minimal barriers to entry 
        and by acting as a ubiquitous, cost-effective distribution system;
Whereas innovative companies in all economic sectors have tied their economic 
        future to the continued growth and success of the Internet;
Whereas the Internet is the medium of choice for electronic commerce, electronic 
        mail, multimedia, and corporate Intranets;
Whereas the Internet has succeeded as a result of its responsiveness to 
        technical challenges unencumbered by any preconceptions imposed by 
        regulation relating to its development; and
Whereas the imposition of telephone access charges by regulation would inhibit 
        the development of the Internet and discourage the use of the Internet 
        at a time when the national policy should be to promote the development 
        of advance telecommunications networks such as the Internet: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that the 
telecommunications policy of the United States should support the 
continued unfettered growth of the Internet by--
            (1) encouraging greater dialogue between the Local Exchange 
        Carriers and the Internet community in the effort to reach a 
        mutually beneficial resolution to the issues relating to 
        connecting to the internet; and
            (2) encouraging the removal of impediments to the 
        introduction of competition, and in particular, in the 
        provision of new technologies and services to connecting to the 
        internet and other advanced networks.
                                 <all>