[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 26 (Wednesday, March 3, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E295]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        THE RECENT DC COURT DECISION ON FCC BROADBAND REGULATION

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                        HON. CHARLES A. GONZALEZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 3, 2004

  Mr. GONZALEZ. Mr. Speaker, I wish to express my support for 
yesterday's decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals--D.C. Circuit 
regarding the Triennial Review Order. The ruling sends a clear signal 
that the intent of Congress in the 1996 Telecommunications Act was to 
create a fair competitive marketplace which fosters job creation.
  Regulatory uncertainty has been devastating to telecommunications 
workers and their families. The FCC's Triennial Review Order added to 
this uncertainty by delegating broadband policy-making to the states. 
In my view it was not the intent of Congress to put fifty individual 
states in charge of national broadband policy. Rather it expected the 
FCC to ensure a competitive national market for this critical 
technology. It is time for the FCC to put America's consumers and small 
businesses first and use its authority to ensure true broadband 
competition.
  I hope that the FCC follows the D.C. Circuit's lead and uses its 
authority as intended by Congress to foster an environment that spurs 
capital investments by telecommunications companies rather than 
continue down the road of regulatory uncertainty.

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