Douglas Alexander: “I wish to make two points to the Senator from Oregon who has worked hard on this legislation from the very beginning. He…”

“I wish to make two points to the Senator from Oregon who has worked hard on this legislation from the very beginning. He is an original cosponsor. No. 1, he is right about the 1998 definition. It isn't high-speed Internet access. There is a difference between the way high-speed Internet access offered over a telephone line and high-speed Internet access offered over a cable is treated. But there are two solutions to that. One is, the Ninth Circuit just solved the problem--the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals--by treating them the same. Now that is on appeal to the Supreme Court. So whatever we do here might be changed by the courts. That is why we need a short moratorium, so Senator McCain's committee and your committee can go into a comprehensive look and solve this whole problem over the next 2 years. We are ready to do that. The FCC is ready to do that. The second answer is, the Alexander-Carper amendment endeavors to treat all providers of high-speed Internet access the same. It is the best we can do from here. If the courts and the FCC do something in addition to that, we cannot control it. Finally, I am concerned about the digital divide, too. But if power companies are going to be offering high-speed Internet access in Manassas, VA, which they do for $25 a month--thanks to the Rural Electrification Association, everybody is going to have high-speed Internet access available to them if they have an electric wire to their house.”