Franchise Reform Act of 2006

S 2357 Right Track Act - A bill to provide for economic security and prosperity, Chapter 1 - Creating a National Broadband Policy. S 2389 Protecting Consumer Phone Records Act - A bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit the unlawful acquisition and use of confidential customer proprietary network information, and for other purposes. S 2453 National Security Surveillance Act of 2006 - A bill to establish procedures for the review of electronic surveillance programs. S 2481 A bill to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to hire additional full-time non-supervisory import specialists of the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, and for other purposes. S 2686 Communications, Consumer's Choice, and Broadband Deployment Act of 2006 - A bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 and for other purposes. S 2917 Internet Freedom Preservation Act - A bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to ensure net neutrality. S 2989 Franchise Reform Act of 2006 - A bill to reform the franchise procedure relating to cable service and video service, and for other purposes. S 3820 Broadband for Rural America Act of 2006 - A bill to expand broadband access for rural Americans. Other Issues - AT&T/BellSouth Merger - GSA's Networx Procurement - GSA's WITS 3 Procurement - Federal Aviation Administration's Telecommunications Infrastructure Program HR 3 Transportation Equity Act - To authorize funds for Federal-aid highways, highway safety programs, and transit programs, and for other purposes. HR 102 Children's Access to Technology Act - To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to provide for the use of unexpended universal service funds in low-income schools, and for other purposes. HR 144 Rural America Digital Accessibility Act - To bridge the digital divide in rural areas. HR 214 Advanced Internet Communications Services Act of 2005 - To promote deployment of and investment in advanced Internet communications services. HR 230 National Small Business Regulatory Assistance Act of 2005 - To amend the Small Business Act to direct the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to establish a program to provide regulatory compliance assistance to small business concerns, and for other purposes. H Con Res 236 Expresses the sense of Congress that all Americans should program their cell phones and other portable electronic devices to show personal emergency contacts under the acronym ICE (In Case of Emergency) to enable emergency personnel to contact family and friends in the event of an emergency. HR 733 Subway Cell Access Act - To require providers of wireless telephone services to provide access to the universal emergency telephone number in subterranean subway stations located within their area of coverage. HR 1479 Rural Access to Broadband Service Act - To expand rural access to broadband services. HR 1661 To amend the Small Business Act and the Communications Act of 1934 to increase participation by small business in spectrum auctions conducted by the Federal Communications Commission. HR 1898 Telephone Excise Tax Repeal Act of 2005 - To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the excise tax on telephone and other communications services. HR 2418 IP-enabled Voice Communications and Public Safety Act of 2005 - A bill to promote and enhance public safety and to encourage the rapid deployment of IP-enabled voice services. HR 2512 Digital Opportunity Investment Trust Act - To provide for the establishment of a Digital Opportunity Investment Trust. HR 2533 Cubin Antideficiency Act - A bill to amend section 254 of the Communications Act of 1934 to provide that funds received as universal service contributions and the universal service support programs established pursuant to that section are not subject to certain provisions of title 31, United States Code. HR 2649 Strengthen Aviation Security Act - To strengthen aviation security. HR 2726 Preserving Innovation in Telecom Act of 2005 - To prohibit municipal governments from offering telecommunications, information, or cable services except to remedy market failures by private enterprise to provide such services. HR 2982 FCC Reorganization Act - To require the Federal Communications Commission to reorganize the bureaus of the Commission in order to better carry out their regulatory functions. HR 3146 Video Choice Act of 2005 - To promote deployment of competitive video services and eliminate redundant and unnecessary regulation. HR 4316 Electronic Waste Recycling Promotion and Consumer Protection Act - To reduce and eliminate electronic waste through recycling. HR 4584 Insular Rate for Cellular Customers Act - To require rate integration for wireless interstate toll charges. HR 4626 Re-Channelization of Public Safety Spectrum Act - To rechannelize spectrum in the 700 megahertz band to promote the deployment of commercial broadband technologies to facilitate interoperable communications for public safety. HR 4943 Prevention of Fraudulent Access to Phone Records Act - To prohibit fraudulent access to telephone records. HR 5058 Small Business Investment and Promotion Act - To provide support for small business concerns, and for other purposes. HR 5072 Universal Service Reform Act of 2006 - A bill to reform the universal service provisions of the Communications Act of 1934, and for other purposes. HR 5085 American Broadband for Communities Act - To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to promote and expedite wireless broadband deployment in rural and other areas, and for other purposes. HR 5252 Communications Opportunity, Promotion, and Enhancement Act of 2006 - To promote the deployment of broadband networks and services. HR 5273 Network Neutrality Act of 2006 - To promote open broadband networks and innovation, foster electronic commerce, and safeguard consumer access to online content and services. HR 5319 Deleting Online Predators Act of 2006 (Section 111) - To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to require recipients of universal service support for schools and libraries to protect minors from commercial social networking websites and chat rooms. HR 5417 Internet Freedom and Nondiscrimination Act of 2006 - To amend the Clayton Act with respect to competitive and nondiscriminatory access to the Internet. HR 5422 To amend the Internet Tax Freedom Act to make permanent the moratorium on taxes on internet access and on multiple and discriminatory taxes on electronic commerce. HR 5481 Miners for Mining Act - Modernizing and improving the national emergency response system for Mining Act. HR 5825 Electronic Surveillance Modernization Act - To update the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978. S 14 A bill to provide fair wages for America's workers, to create new jobs through investment in America, to provide for fair trade and competitiveness, and for other purposes - Chapter 6 - Broadband Access Tax Credit. S 211 Calling for 2-1-1 Act of 2005 - To facilitate nationwide availability of 2-1-1 telephone service for information and referral on human services, volunteer services, and for other purposes. S 241 Anti-Deficiency Act - A bill to amend section 254 of the Communications Act of 1934 to provide that funds received as universal service contributions and the universal service support programs established pursuant to that section are not subject to certain provisions of title 31, United States Code. S 284 Rural Universal Services Equity Act of 2005 - A bill to distribute universal service support equitably throughout rural America, and for other purposes. S 497 Broadband Rural Revitalization Act of 2005 - To revitalize our nation's rural communities by expanding broadband services. S 714 Junk Fax Prevention Act of 2005 - A bill to amend section 227 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 227) relating to the prohibition on junk fax transmissions. S 1063 IP-Enabled Voice Communications and Public Safety Act of 2005 - A bill to promote and enhance public safety and to encourage the rapid deployment of IP-enabled voice services. S 1294 Community Broadband Act of 2005 - A bill to amend the Telecommunications Act of 1996 to preserve and protect the ability of local governments to provide broadband capability and services. S 1349 Video Choice Act of 2005 - A bill to promote deployment of competitive video services, eliminate redundant and unnecessary regulation, and further the development of next generation broadband networks. S 1504 Broadband Investment and Consumer Choice Act - A bill to establish a market driven telecommunications market place, to eliminate government managed competition of existing communication services, an to provide parity between functionally equivalent services. S 1583 Universal Service for the 21st Century Act - A bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to expand the contribution base for universal service, establish a separate account within the universal service fund to support the deployment of broadband service in unserved areas of the United States, and for other purposes. S 1767 To require the Federal Communications Commission to reevaluate the band plans for the upper 700 megaHertz band and the un-auctioned portions of the lower 700 megaHertz band and reconfigure. S 2113 Digital Age Communications Act of 2005 - A bill to promote the widespread availability of communications services and the integrity of communication facilities, and to encourage investment in communication networks. S 2130 To clarify the legal standard needed to use cellular telephones as tracking devices. S 2256 Internet and Universal Service Act of 2006 - A bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to ensure the availability to all Americans of high-quality, advanced telecommunications and broadband services, technologies, and networks at just, reasonable, and affordable rates, and to establish a permanent mechanism to guarantee specific, sufficient, and predictable support for the preservation and advancement of universal service, and for other purposes. S 2360 Internet Non-Discrimination Act of 2006 - A bill to ensure and promote a free and open Internet for all Americans. S 2308 Mine Safety and Health Act of 2006 - To amend the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 to improve mine safety, and for other purposes. S 2332 American Broadband for Communities Act - To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to promote and expedite wireless broadband deployment in rural and other areas, and for other purposes.

Client expense: $13,595,451 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), General Services Administration (GSA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), SENATE, Treasury, Dept of

H.R.501, to enforce the public interest obligations of broadcast station licensees to their local communities H.R.951, to reinstate the FCC’s rules for the description of video programming H.R.998, to preserve local radio broadcast emergency and other services and to require the FCC to conduct a rulemaking for that purpose H.R.1420, to prohibit as indecent the broadcasting of any advertisement for medication for the treatment of erectile dysfunction H.R.1440, to prohibit the FCC from imposing penalties for indecent broadcasts on providers of video over cable television systems, satellite carriers, the Internet, or non-broadcast providers H.R.1622, to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to reduce restrictions on media ownership H.R.1661, to amend the Small Business Act and the Communications Act of 1934 to increase participation by small businesses in spectrum auctions conducted by the FCC H.R.1665, to shorten the term of broadcasting licenses under the Communications Act of 1934 from eight to three years, to provide better public access to broadcasters’ public interest issues and programs lists and children’s programming reports H.R.1730, to reinstate the authority of the FCC and local franchising authorities to regulate the rates for cable television service H.R.2354, to prohibit the FCC from requiring digital television tuners in television receivers H.R.2359, to establish minimum public interest requirements for multi-cast digital television channels H.R.2726, to prohibit municipal governments from offering telecommunications, information, or cable services except to remedy market failures by private enterprise to provide such services H.R.2904, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a credit against the income tax for an owner of a radio broadcasting station which donates the license and other assets of such station to a nonprofit corporation for purposes of supporting nonprofit fine arts and performing arts organizations H.R.3032, to require manufacturers and retailers to provide disclosure to consumers that analog televisions will no longer receive broadcast transmissions after the public broadcast spectrum changes to digital after Dec. 31, 2006 H.R.3146, to promote deployment of competitive video services and eliminate redundant and unnecessary regulation H.R.3302, to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to prevent excessive concentration of ownership of the nation’s media outlets, to restore fairness in broadcasting, and to foster and promote localism, diversity and competition in the media H.R.4569, to require certain analog conversion devices to preserve digital content security measures H.R.4861, to authorize the FCC to impose licensing conditions on digital audio radio to protect against the unauthorized distribution of transmitted content. S. 2327, to require the FCC to issue a final order regarding white spaces H.R.148, to require the FCC to report to Congress regarding the ownership and control of broadcast stations used to serve language minorities H.R.5264, to provide American consumers information about the broadcast television transition from an analog to a digital format H.R.5919, to empower parents to protect children from increasing depictions of indecent material on television H.R. 6384, to amend title 17, U.S. Code, with respect to settlement agreements reached with respect to litigation involving certain secondary transmissions of superstations and network stations S.193, to increase the penalties for violations by television and radio broadcasters of the prohibitions against transmission of obscene, indecent, and profane language S.312, to implement the recommendations of the FCC report to the Congress regarding low-power FM service S.383, to shorten the term of broadcasting licenses under the Communications Act of 1934 from eight to three years, to provide better public access to broadcasters’ public interest issues and programs lists and children’s programming reports S.616, to inform the American public and to protect children from increasing depictions of indecent and gratuitous and excessive violent material on television S.900, to reinstate the FCC’s rules for the description of video programming S.946, to amend the communications Act of 1934 to require multichannel video programming distributors to provide a kid-friendly tier of programming S.967, to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to ensure that prepackaged news stories contain announcements that inform viewers that the information within was provided by the U.S. government S.1236, to ensure the availability of spectrum to amateur radio operators S.1237, to expedite the transition to digital television while helping consumers to continue to use their analog televisions S.1268, to expedite the transition to digital television while helping consumers to continue to use their analog televisions S.1349, to promote deployment of competitive video services, eliminate redundant and unnecessary regulation, and further the development of next generation broadband networks S.1372, to provide for the accuracy of television ratings services S.1600, to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to ensure full access to digital television in areas served by low-power television S.2418, a bill to preserve local radio broadcast emergency and other services and to require the Federal Communications Commission to conduct a rulemaking for that purpose S.2686, to amend the Communications Act of 1934 and for other purposes, Communications Opportunity, Promotion, and Enhancement Act of 2006 S. 2989, to reform the franchise procedure relating to cable service and video service, and for other purposes S. 3457, to provide a national franchise and other regulatory relief to video service providers who offer a-la-carte programming for cable television, and for other purposes H.R.3876, to provide that private land use rules be treated as state or local regulation for purposes of certain FCC regulations

Client expense: $1,100,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Federal Communications Commission (FCC), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

H.R. 5072, the "Universal service Reform Act," a bill to reform the Universal Service Fund to improve its solvency and expand the scope of its contributions and distributions to broadband. Author: Rep. Terry (R-NE-2) Introduced March 30, 2006 Cosponsors: 10 Latest Action:Referred to the Subcommittee on telecommunications and the Internet H.R. 5252, a bill to reform video franchising process and authorize the FCC to adjudicate network neutrality disputes. Author: Rep. Barton (R-TX-6) Introduced May 1 ,2006 Cosponsors: 55 Latest Action: Placed on senate Legislative calendar under General orders Calendar No. 652 H.R. 5264, the "Digital Television Consumer Education Act," a bill to provide consumers with more information about the transition to digital television in February 2009. Author: Rep. Engel (D-NY-17) Introduced: May 2, 2006 Cosponsors: None Latest Action: Referred to House Energy and Commerce Committee H.R. 5273, the "network Neutrality Act," a bill to impose network neutrality requirements on broadband providers. Author: Rep. Markey (D-MA-7) Introduced: May 2, 2006 Cosponsors: 3 Latest Action: Referred to the Subcommittee on telecommunications and the Internet H.R. 5319, the "Deleting Online Predators Act," a bill to require schools and libraries to protect minors from certain chat rooms and social networking websites. Author: Rep. Fitzpatrick (R-PA-8) Introduced May 11, 2006 Cosponsors: 6 Latest Action: Received in the Senate and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation H.R. 5417 - the "Internet Freedom and Nondiscrimination Act," a bill to amend the Clayton Act, impose new net neutrality and non-discrimination requirements on owners of broadband networks. Author: Rep. Sensenbrennar (R-WI-5) Introduced: May 18, 2005 Cosponsors: 3 latest Action: Placed on Union Calendar, Calendar No. 303 H.R. 5422 - a bill to make the Internet Tax moratorium and the Internet Tax Freedom Act, which expire on November 1, 2007, permanent. Author: Rep. Sensenbrennar (R-WI-5) Introduced: May 18, 2005 Cosponsors: 4 Latest Action: Referred to the Judiciary Committee The following list represent the types of legislation that addresses the issues ACA lobbies on behalf of its members: S. 2258 - the "Internet and Universal Service Act," a bill to reform the Universal Service Fund to make it financially solvent and expand both its contributions and distributions to broadband. Author: Senator Burns (R-MT) Introduced: February 8, 2006 Cosponsors: none Latest Action: Referred to the Senate Commerce Committee S. 2264 - the "Consumer Phone Record Security Act," a bill to enhance consumer protections against unauthorized sale and use of confidential telephone information. Author: Senator Pryor (D-AR) Introduced: February 9, 2006 Cosponsors: 1 Latest Action: Referred to senate Commerce Committee S. 2360 - the "Internet Non-Discrimination Act," a bill to impose network neutrality and non-discrimination requirements on broadband providers. Author: Sen. Wyden (D-OR) Introduced: March 2, 2006 Cosponsors: none Latest Action: Referred to the Senate Commerce Committee S. 2426 - the "Cyber Safety for Kids Act," a bill to further protect minors from harmful material on the Internet. Author: Sen. Baucus (D-MT) Introduced: March 16, 2006 Cosponsors: 1 Latest Action: Referred to the Senate Commerce Committee S. 2644, the "PERFORM Act of 2006," a bill to harmonize the rates for section 112 and section 114 copyright licenses. Author: Sen. Feinstein (D-CA) Introduced: April 25, 2006 Cosponsors: 2 Latest Action: Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee S. 2686, the "Communications, Consumers Choice, and Broadband Deployment Act," a bill to update the Telecommunications Act of 1996 by instituting national video franchises, studying the need for network neutrality rules, imposing uniform program access requirements, abolishing the terrestrial exemption, and reinstating the FCC's video captioning requirements. Author: Senator Stevens (R-AK) Introduced: May 1, 2006 Cosponsors: 1 Latest Action: Referred to Senate Commerce Committee. Legislative hearings May 18, May 25, June 13. S. 2917, the "Internet Freedom Preservation Act," a bill to impose network neutrality and non-discrimination requirements on broadband providers. Author: Rep. Snowe (R-ME) Introduced: May 19, 2006 Cosponsors: 7 Latest Action: Referred to Senate Commerce Committee S.2989, the "Franchise Reform Act," a bill to provide for national video franchise modeled on the state franchise recently enacted in Texas. Author: Sen Hutchison (R-TX) Introduced: May 23, 2006 Cosponsors: none Latest Action: Referred to Senate Commerce Committee Generally, the following issues were addressed in the offices specified: Federal Communications Commission - Digital Television Transition, Retransmission Consent Reform, Emergency Sytsem Relief for Smaller Companies, Program Access, Open Access, Regulatory Parity, VOIP Regulations, Video Programming Price Index Federal Communications Commission - RM-11203 Federal Communications Commission - CALEA Federal Communications Commission - EAS House and Senate-Escalating Programming Rates and Greater Forced Tying and Bundling of Programming Services by Major Media Conglomerates Causing Consumers' Cable Rates to Rise; Need for Transparency in Programming in Programming Pricing House and Senate - Lack of Consumer Choice and Need for Cable Operators and Consumers to Have Right to Tier-High-Cost Services House and Senate - Retransmission Consent Abuse by Major Media Conglomerates and Need for Changes in or Elimination of Retransmission Consent Laws and Regulations House and Senate - The Need to Reform Pole Attachment Rate Regulations House Commerce Committee - Digital Television Transition; Phased-in Transition for Smaller Markets and Rural Areas, the Impact of Video Over IP, the Need for Regulatory Parity (to treat services alike) Rural Utility Service - Technology Neutral Access to Broadband Loans and Programs General Accounting Office - Report on Cable/Programming Rates and the FCC Rulemaking Process. Senate Commerce Committee - Media Ownership; Negative Consumer and Business Effects of Further Consolidation of Programming and Broadcast Entities; Digital Television Transition Impact on Rural Consumers; the Need for Access to Local Into Local DBS Signals because of the Digital Cliff Effect Resulting from the Digital Transition See next page for description

Client expense: $100,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Government Accountability Office (GAO), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE