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I <br />Volav <br />C70f <br />4* 0101 <br />'Iftestinesi <br />10 OMV 0 0 <br />Mr. Chairman: <br />I wanit to thank you for this <br />opportunity to testify before <br />you and this Commitles on this <br />Iiiiii telecommunications <br />Issues you, are considering. As <br />the tormer chair of the National <br />League of Cities, TailecomMUF11- <br />cations and Transportation <br />Steering Committee, as the <br />present chair of the Conference <br />of Mayors" Telecommunications, <br />Committee a,nid the Chair of Its <br />new Task Force on Ulecom- <br />munleationis and Telco's, and as <br />lone of the original negotiators <br />representing the cities on Fed- <br />eta] legislation leading to the <br />Also In <br />Thi's Issue,.@ <br />PyWOOO Is Letittr ........... 2 <br />lAqOidatill a Uld Affalm <br />Hoarfw Highilighift ......... 5 <br />AlifetzmMum 51off <br />Ll <br />rwi U 4 <br />W <br />. ...... . . <br />9 <br />,T UN <br />#M. Squ ,Al (Ol df, womfolill, T*�O* ta,040y, <br />Telecommunications Act of <br />1984, ll am, extremely encour- <br />aged by your interest, Mr. Chair- <br />men, aundl that of the committee, <br />In this vital area of public <br />policy. <br />At stake Is something as <br />crucial as f reedomi of speech, In <br />the electronic age. At stalker Is <br />someithiing as crucial as access <br />to a, technology which can <br />Improve the quality of our lives <br />and whilchi can Improve the <br />economic well-being of oulr, citi- <br />zens. At stake are the rights, of <br />consumers Ins a monopolistic <br />mia*et. <br />Freedom of speech Is guaran- <br />teed not only to those who can <br />afford lit, but to rich and poor <br />alike. Contractual commitments <br />consumers of lellecommunica- <br />tions. <br />Senate Bill! 66 promised uis <br />competition Instead of regula- <br />tioni. Today, we, have nelther. In <br />fact, what we have tolday Is a <br />(Conflnuw on P"al 4) <br />Nationa1l League of Cilllel$ InStItUtO <br />13011 P' inns Ave., NW <br />Washington, DC 20OD4 <br />Wufr? <br />MYWIA <br />Irl �1 <br />J�UNE 1989 III <br />!A TPA <br />'!A <br />lop <br />VAth a flurry of activity, a <br />major debate on regulatory <br />policy for the cable Industry has <br />been kicked off In Congress., <br />Three pleces of legislationi hull <br />been Introduced which are <br />designed to provide cities and <br />towns with broad new regulatory <br />authority and I ncrease completi- <br />t1ort, and moire bIllis are <br />expected in the next few weeks. <br />Sen. Ho card Metzenbaum <br />hlo),i Chairman of the <br />Senate, Judiciary Committee's <br />subcommittee on antitrust, <br />m�oniopolllas anwdl business rights, <br />Introduced two bills (S. W3 and <br />S. IN34) on April 18 which are <br />Intended to check this monopoly <br />power of cable companies., Just <br />two weeks later, Sen. Joseph <br />Lieberman (D-Conni.) Introduced <br />a bill (S. 905) that would repeal, <br />rate) deregulation In Its entirety, <br />Rep., Christopher .shays intro- <br />duced companion legislation <br />(HR 2222) In the House. As <br />NATOA News went to, press, <br />introduction of legislation oini <br />the, question of telephone com- <br />pany, entry Into the cable bust- <br />ness was anticipated. <br />ThI e Metmiribaum Bills, <br />Citing the fact that 99, percent <br />of the nation's cable sul b- <br />(G"tMUW on pop 2 <br />.............................. <br />SMACAMM81 <br />UA P00"O <br />PAW <br />Wmhwqwl. EXCL <br />Petn* Ift 34711 <br />lie <br />