USA - post-election policy changes

Election Portends Legislative Action for Broadband Policy, VoIP

With the certainty that a new Presidential Administration will be sworn in next January, and the apparent possibility that it will be a Democratic one, many telecommunications policy initiatives will percolate up over the coming months. Given that 2008 is a major election year, only the most non-controversial of these will pass as many legislators will be campaigning and business in Congress will virtually come to a halt for the year as of early August. While not many legislative proposals will pass in this environment, much of the work will be done this year and bills made ready for speedy action early in 2009 after the inauguration. High on the list of priorities is broadband policy. One indicator of what to expect is a bill introduced in the House by Congressmen Ed Markey (D-Mass) and Chip Pickering (R-Miss) addressing Network Neutrality. Another aspect of broadband policy which will get attention is the speed of deployment throughout the U.S. Others areas receiving attention are: wireless communications and state preemption of entry of municipal governments into the telecom marketplace. While 2008 is unlikely to see much legislation passed by Congress, it will provide much of the groundwork for new laws to be enacted in 2009. Those who are interested or affected should pay attention this year and not wait for next.