[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 11658]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 H.R. 5252, THE COMMUNICATION OPPORTUNITY, PROMOTION, AND ENHANCEMENT 
                                  ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 16, 2006

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 5252, the 
Communication and Enhancement Act. The COPE Act would allow telephone 
companies to reap the rewards of the, cable business with few 
responsibilities and could also threaten the innovative nature of the 
Internet. I believe the passage of this bill would be a major setback 
for consumers, communities, and the public interest.
  I think we all agree that there is a need for consumer choice and 
competition in cable. Currently, most communities are served by the 
cable industry's quasi-monopolies. However, ``competition'' in cable 
shouldn't have the effect of, cutting consumer protections, reducing 
public broadcasting, and eliminating local rights. ``Competition'' 
shouldn't be about providing lucrative markets with several cable 
service options and leaving those in poorer neighborhoods with low-
quality service and the potential for ever increasing cable raising 
rates.
  The COPE Act would put the Federal Communications Commission in 
charge of what our localities have been successfully handling for 
years. Do we really think the Federal Communications Commission will do 
a better job at resolving consumer complaints? Is the FCC going to come 
out to Skokie, Illinois and take care of problems that may arise 
concerning the town's public right-of-way? And, does the FCC have the 
resources--both in budget and personnel--to do so?
  I am also greatly concerned that there are not adequate protections 
in this bill for the Internet as we know it. The telecom industry has 
already told us that they plan to operate their own form of censorship, 
slowing down or speeding up delivery of content depending on it 
relationship to the provider. I am concerned that they could also start 
blocking email from advocacy groups they don't agree with and shutting 
down startups that may offer competition to products they provide.
  I understand that many argue that the cost of continuing with an open 
Internet will fall on the shoulder of consumers, and that the Titans of 
the Internet will get a free ride if we pass a net neutrality 
provision. However, while the COPE Act would allow the telcos to set up 
their tollbooths, there are no guarantees, no protections, nothing to 
stop the telcos from bilking consumers--even if the telcos were to 
charge Google and Yahoo. They could double dip--and why wouldn't they? 
One can say that it probably won't happen, but there is nothing in this 
bill to stop them.
  Mr. Speaker, the COPE Act is not the answer to lack of competition in 
cable service. I urge my colleagues to oppose its passage.

                          ____________________