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June 9, 2005

Silently Weeping at Where America is Heading

Via InstaPundit, information that Pete Sessions (R-TX) [sadly, not my rep, so that I could vote against him], is up to no good:

A Texas Congressman has introduced a bill that impose a nationwide prohibition on municipally-sponsored networks.
Dubbed by the Author, Representative Pet Sessions (R-Texas), the Preserving Innovation in Telecom Act of 2005, the bill prohibits state and local governments from providing any telecommunications or information service that is "substantially similar" to services provided by private companies.

The bill, HR 2726, is similar to a host of state bills pushed by telecommunications companies aimed at fending off municipally-run wireless networks. Some of those bills, most recently one in Texas, have been stalled in state legislatures.

The telecommunications operators say that such networks represent unfair competition while municipalities claim that the services are needed to promote business and close the gap between digital haves and have-nots.

According to Sessions' on-line biography, he is a former employee of Southwestern Bell and Bell Labs. The bill will first be considered by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.


You know, I used to think that in the very remote event I were ever compelled to take up arms to defend Liberty, dual sovereignty, a government of enumerated powers, negative rights or to prevent tyranny, it would be because of the overreaching statist Democrats. Now, I am coming to think that in the hopefully-unlikely event I am ever compelled to take up arms for those reasons, it will be because of the overreaching statist Republicans.

Posted by jeff at June 9, 2005 9:43 PM

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Comments

They tried this same crap in the Texas legislature this session, but the bill ultimately died. Verizon and SBC are really hot to get this passed, since it prevents cities from competing with their offerings.

I suppose we need to change the congressman's label, though. It should now read: Rep. Pete Sessions (R-SBC).

Posted by: Aubrey Turner at June 10, 2005 11:39 AM