Victor Fazio: “although we are well into the Information Age, our Government's response to the need to revamp our national…”

“although we are well into the Information Age, our Government's response to the need to revamp our national telecommunications policy lags behind. Technological advances make possible the formation of new and hybrid services that do not fit into traditional categories, creating for the first time the possibility of true competition in many telecommunication fields. Today we have the opportunity to make our national telecommunications policies respond to the dynamic age in which we live. I support final passage of this legislation because I believe it is critical for telecommunications policy in this country to move forward. If we proceed with the status quo, consumers will continue to be denied state-of-the-art services and products. U.S. competitiveness in telecommunications will continue to be in jeopardy due to antiquated restrictions on involvement in new technology. Industry and investors will not be able to effectively plan for the future. After years of debating this bill, it is time for Congress to step up to the plate. H.R. 1555 would lift the current restrictions that prevent the telephone, cable television, broadcast television and other companies from competing in each others markets. This legislation will pave the way for a new climate where competition would replace monopoly regulation in the communication sector.”