Internet Freedom Act

Summary

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.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

1. 5 May 1999

   Introduced

   Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E869-870)

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 5 May 1999

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 5 May 1999

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

4. 5 May 1999

   Introduced

   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.

   Source: IntroReferral

5. 5 May 1999

   Introduced

   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.

   Source: IntroReferral

6. 25 May 1999

   Referred

   Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade, and Consumer Protection.

   Source: Committee

7. 30 June 1999

   Committee

   Committee Hearings Held.

   Source: Committee

8. 18 July 2000

   Committee

   Committee Hearings Held.

   Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

• Introduced in House · 5 May 1999 · Official file

Documents

3 official files

• Introduced in House (text)

  Introduced in House · EN · 5 May 1999

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in House (PDF)

  Introduced in House · EN · 5 May 1999

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 5 May 1999

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• ROBERT GOODLATTE · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Boucher, Rick [D-VA-9] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Gekas, George W. [R-PA-17] · R · Cosponsor
• LAMAR SMITH · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Meehan, Martin T. [D-MA-5] · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. Ewing, Thomas W. [R-IL-15] · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Skeen, Joe [R-NM-2] · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Jones, Stephanie Tubbs [D-OH-11] · D · Cosponsor
• Richard Neal · D · Cosponsor
• MICHAEL CAPUANO · D · Cosponsor
• James McGovern · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. Olver, John W. [D-MA-1] · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. Bartlett, Roscoe G. [R-MD-6] · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Baker, Richard H. [R-LA-6] · R · Cosponsor
• Pete Sessions · R · Cosponsor
• KEVIN BRADY · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Dicks, Norman D. [D-WA-6] · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. LaHood, Ray [R-IL-18] · R · Cosponsor
• Sen. Talent, Jim [R-MO] · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Hill, Rick [R-MT-At Large] · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Rodriguez, Ciro D. [D-TX-23] · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. Peterson, John E. [R-PA-5] · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Cook, Merrill [R-UT-2] · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Hutchinson, Asa [R-AR-3] · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Rahall, Nick J., II [D-WV-4] · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. Weldon, Curt [R-PA-7] · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Kuykendall, Steven T. [R-CA-36] · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Collins, Mac [R-GA-8] · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. DeLay, Tom [R-TX-22] · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Foley, Mark [R-FL-16] · R · Cosponsor
• Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI] · D · Cosponsor
• Sheila Jackson Lee · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. Doolittle, John T. [R-CA-4] · R · Cosponsor
• · hsju00 · Standing
• · hsif00 · Standing

Related records

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