Ed Markey: “Mr. Speaker, this is a very, very historic evening. Tonight, as we pass this legislation, we break down the final…”

“Mr. Speaker, this is a very, very historic evening. Tonight, as we pass this legislation, we break down the final governmentally-sanctioned monopoly that had been granted over the last decades to private telecommunications companies. We did the bulk of the work in the 1992 Cable Act and in the 1996 Telecommunications Act, but this was the last refuge of the last monopoly; and, as of tonight, it too has ended. I want to congratulate the chairman, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Bliley), for his excellent work on this bill. I have worked very closely with him over the last counsel of terms on this legislation. Although, I have to admit that I did introduce the first bill back in 1983. Although, most of my last couple of decades was notable for its lack of success in legislating in this area. But I think the inexorable momentum of the move toward the privatization of telecommunications companies has in fact finally swept down this final barrier, as well. I want to congratulate the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Tauzin) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell). Working together with them, we have been able to craft I believe a compromise that works for everyone. This is, without question, compromise at its best.”