TMCnet News
Alcatel Applauds Draft Telecom LegislationWASHINGTON, Nov. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Alcatel (NYSE: ALA; Paris: CGEP.PA) notes that House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Joe Barton and Telecommunications and the Internet Subcommittee Chairman Fred Upton have circulated draft legislation, the Broadband Internet Transmission Services ("BITS") Act, that would create regulatory certainty for the deployment of broadband video services. "Alcatel endorses the BITS Act, and requests the Committee move it forward in the legislative process without delay. The BITS Act will ensure the continued growth of the U.S. broadband market by creating legal and regulatory certainty for the services that flow over powerful new broadband networks, such as the IPTV networks being built by Alcatel for U.S. telecommunications carriers, in several ways: "First, it generally protects nascent broadband services from regulation at the Federal, State, and local level, and does so in a socially conscious manner by preserving important public policies, such as E911. "The bill creates a streamlined Federal video franchise process for broadband video services that will ensure they can be a key driver of continued broadband deployment immediately. The BITS Act achieves this goal while protecting the ability of municipalities to manage their local rights of way, as well as the video franchise fee revenue streams they have come to rely on. "Alcatel also supports the inclusion into the BITS Act of Internet Neutrality principles, which promotes consumer broadband demand, as well as protections for municipal entry into the broadband market when necessary." About Alcatel Alcatel provides communications solutions to telecommunication carriers, Internet service providers and enterprises for delivery of voice, data and video applications to their customers or employees. Alcatel brings its leading position in fixed and mobile broadband networks; applications and services, to help its partners and customers build a user-centric broadband world. With sales of EURO 12.3 billion and 56,000 employees in 2004, Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries. For more information, visit Alcatel on the Internet: http://www.alcatel.com/ Alcatel CONTACT: Charlie Guyer of Alcatel, +1-978-468-0153, [email protected] Web site: http://www.alcatel.com/ |