[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 89 (Tuesday, July 12, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 12, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
            BUILDING OUR TELECOMMUNI- CATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE

                                 ______


                               speech of

                           HON. JIM SLATTERY

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 28, 1994

  Mr. SLATTERY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 
3626 and H.R. 3636. These landmark bills are essential in aiding our 
Nation as we travel down the information superhighway. I congratulate 
Chairman Dingell and Chairman Brooks, along with Subcommittee Chairman 
Markey and their staffs, for their diligence in bringing this 
legislation to the floor.
  H.R. 3626 would allow the regional Bell Telephone Companies gradually 
to enter the long-distance business. The companies could also enter 
into telecommunications equipment manufacturing, based on legislation I 
authored, and could provide information services. This legislation 
includes important provisions requiring future Bell manufacturing 
affiliates to operate in the United States and to make every possible 
effort to buy component parts from U.S. companies.
  I am pleased that H.R. 3626 also includes an amendment I offered to 
help thousands of community newspapers across the country have a better 
chance to get on board the information superhighway.
  The National Newspaper Association, the oldest and largest newspaper 
trade association in the United States, believes this could be the most 
important legislation to affect community newspapers throughout the 
Nation. By guaranteeing them fair access, fair rates, and fair 
competition, this legislation gives them nothing less than a license to 
the future. Without it, they could be ignored or actually driven off 
the information superhighway.
  These newspapers often provide the social, political, and economic 
ties that bind communities together. Many are going through tough 
times. They face competition and disappearing ad revenue everywhere 
they look. Now at least they can face the electronic future with 
confidence that if this bill becomes law, they're bound to get a fair 
shake. The law requires no less.
  I also want to call attention to the provisions of this legislation 
which address access by the disabled. In the past, most technological 
innovations in the area of information and telecommunication services 
have been developed without considering the needs of individuals with 
disabilities.
  In keeping with the spirit of the Americans With Disabilities Act 
mandate to bring about the complete integration of individuals with 
disabilities into the mainstream of our society, H.R. 3636 and H.R. 
3626 would ensure that advances in network services deployed by local 
exchange carriers, and advances in telecommunications equipment and 
customer premises equipment developed by Bell manufacturing affiliates, 
will be accessible and usable by individuals with disabilities, unless 
the costs of providing such access would result in an undue burden or 
an adverse competitive impact.
  H.R. 3636 directs the Federal Communications Commission to undertake 
inquiries regarding the provision of both closed captioning and video 
description services of video services, and further directs the 
Commission to establish regulations to require an appropriate schedule 
of deadlines for the provision of closed captioning.

  We have finally set the stage for full access--access which is long 
overdue--to video programming for these populations.
  Additionally, I worked with my colleagues on the House Energy and 
Commerce Committee to include provisions which will help to provide a 
fair and equitable marketplace for small cable operators.
  For example, the legislation would promote competition by removing 
State and local barriers for new telecommunications services. It would 
also allow joint ventures, mergers, and acquisitions to occur in areas 
with population of 10,000 or less, or when the cable system or systems 
in the aggregate serve less than 10 percent of the households in a 
Telco's service area. Representatives of small cable operators have 
advised me of additional issues that need to be addressed as this 
legislation moves forward. For example, there is a need to require all 
providers of cable services to comply with the same franchise 
requirements as local cable operators. Furthermore, certification of 
compliance with the interconnection and access requirements should be 
demonstrated through a public process.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to resolve 
these outstanding issues so we can ensure that rural America has full 
access to the information superhighway.

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