Ex-Senate Commerce Staffers Press for Telecom Law Overhaul

of technological privacy was unheard of in 1934 and was not thoroughly considered in the 1996 reform of telecommunication laws. Today, privacy is one of a series of concerns for consumers and the assorted industries now participating in the communications revolution. And the most modern-day effort, a 2006 rewrite attempted by the Senate Commerce Committee was derailed over a range of issues unimaginable during the 1930s, including net neutrality and broadband speeds.” Whitehorn said the 2006 efforts came close to the finish line (see 1402110041). They cited the stalled efforts in the House and Senate from this Congress and said they “show there is a bipartisan desire and a persistent awareness to address reform.” There should be “a clean-slate approach that will allow federal policymakers the flexibility to craft legislation that will not only address current technologies but will look ahead and provide a flexible framework for companies and innovators to follow,” they said. Both counted Microsoft, CompTIA and Time Warner Cable, now owned by Charter Communications, as lobbying clients this year. Whitehorn’s include Intel while Chamberlin’s include Facebook and Oracle.