Bill Summary & Status for the 106th Congress

NEW SEARCH | HOME | HELP

H.R.1686
Sponsor: Rep Goodlatte, Bob(introduced 5/5/1999)
Latest Major Action: 7/18/2000 House committee/subcommittee actions: Committee Hearings Held.
Title: To ensure that the Internet remains open to fair competition, free from government regulation, and accessible to American consumers.
Jump to: Titles, Status, Committees, Related Bill Details, Amendments, Cosponsors, Summary

TITLE(S):  (italics indicate a title for a portion of a bill)
STATUS: (color indicates Senate actions) (Floor Actions/Congressional Record Page References)

          See also: Related House Committee Documents
5/5/1999:
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
5/5/1999:
Referred to House Judiciary
6/30/1999:
Committee Hearings Held.
7/18/2000:
Committee Hearings Held.
5/5/1999:
Referred to House Commerce
5/25/1999:
Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade, and Consumer Protection.

COMMITTEE(S):
RELATED BILL DETAILS:

***NONE***


AMENDMENT(S):

***NONE***


COSPONSORS(32), ALPHABETICAL [followed by Cosponsors withdrawn]:     (Sort: by date)

Rep Baker, Richard H. - 6/29/1999 Rep Baldwin, Tammy - 5/3/2000
Rep Bartlett, Roscoe G. - 6/29/1999 Rep Boucher, Rick - 5/5/1999
Rep Brady, Kevin - 6/29/1999 Rep Capuano, Michael E. - 6/29/1999
Rep Collins, Mac - 11/18/1999 Rep Cook, Merrill - 9/15/1999
Rep DeLay, Tom - 11/18/1999 Rep Dicks, Norman D. - 8/5/1999
Rep Doolittle, John T. - 5/15/2000 Rep Ewing, Thomas W. - 6/29/1999
Rep Foley, Mark - 2/8/2000 Rep Gekas, George W. - 6/29/1999
Rep Hill, Rick - 8/5/1999 Rep Hutchinson, Asa - 10/5/1999
Rep Jackson-Lee, Sheila - 5/3/2000 Rep Jones, Stephanie Tubbs - 6/29/1999
Rep Kuykendall, Steven T. - 11/4/1999 Rep LaHood, Ray - 8/5/1999
Rep McGovern, James P. - 6/29/1999 Rep Meehan, Martin T. - 6/29/1999
Rep Neal, Richard E. - 6/29/1999 Rep Olver, John W. - 6/29/1999
Rep Peterson, John E. - 8/5/1999 Rep Rahall, Nick J., II - 10/5/1999
Rep Rodriguez, Ciro - 8/5/1999 Rep Sessions, Pete - 6/29/1999
Rep Skeen, Joe - 6/29/1999 Rep Smith, Lamar - 6/29/1999
Rep Talent, James M. - 8/5/1999 Rep Weldon, Curt - 10/21/1999


SUMMARY AS OF:
5/5/1999--Introduced.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Title I: Antitrust and Criminal Provisions

Title II: Additional Provisions

Internet Freedom Act - Title I: Antitrust and Criminal Provisions - Provides that in any civil action based on antitrust violations, evidence that an incumbent local exchange carrier that has market power in the broadband service provider market area has willfully and knowingly failed to provide conditioned unbundled local loops when economically reasonable and technically feasible, or restrains the ability of another carrier to compete in the provision of such services, shall establish a presumption of an antitrust violation. Establishes an identical presumption in the case of a broadband access transport provider that has market power in the broadband service provider market who has offered access to a service provider on terms and conditions less favorable than those otherwise offered, or restrains unreasonably the ability of another provider from competing in the provision of such services. Defines: (1) broadband as a transmission capability in excess of 200 kilobits per second in at least one direction; and (2) a broadband access transport provider as one who engages in the broadband transmission of data between a user and his service provider's point of interconnection with the broadband access transport provider's facilities.

Makes it unlawful for a broadband access transport provider to engage in unfair methods of competition or unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the provision of such services.

Amends the Federal criminal code to provide criminal penalties against anyone who intentionally: (1) and without authorization initiates the transmission of a bulk unsolicited electronic mail message to a protected computer with knowledge that such message falsifies an Internet domain, header information, or other identifier; or (2) sells or distributes any computer program designed primarily to conceal the source or routing information on such mail, has only limited commercially significant purpose or use, or is marketed by the violator or another person acting in concert with the violator with the violator's knowledge of such use.

Title II: Additional Provisions - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require each local exchange carrier to submit to the State communications commission in each State in which such carrier does business a plan to provide broadband telecommunications service in all local exchange areas in which such carrier has telephone exchange service customers, as soon as such service is economically reasonable and technically feasible. Considers such plan certified unless rejected within 45 days. Requires plan implementation within 180 days (if reasonable and feasible). Prohibits State or Federal Communications Commission (FCC) modification of such plans.

Provides that interLATA services shall not include services that consist of or include the transmission of any data or information by means of the Internet or any other network that employs Internet Protocol-based or other packet-switched technology. Prohibits a Bell operating company or its affiliate from providing, by the Internet or similar network employing such technology, two-way voice only interLATA telecommunications services originating in any of its in-region States until the FCC approves the application of such company for such State.