In response to my April 27 email, I received the following statement late this afternoon from Congressman Sherrod Brown (via an email from staffer Phil deVellis):
The Communications Opportunity, Promotion, and Enhancement (COPE) Act of 2006 would make it easier for phone companies to enter the cable television market. The legislation as it stands now is not yet perfect, but it should help reduce high cable rates, help create jobs, and improve public safety. On that basis, I voted in favor of its passage.
Cable prices have risen astronomically in recent years and most Ohio residents do not have a choice of cable provider. This bill would foster a competitive environment and give consumers the choices they deserve. Increased competition will play an important role in job creation. New infrastructure and services and the workers to maintain those services will be needed when competition gets off the ground. Ohio needs jobs, and these are good ones.
The COPE Act would also ensure Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) customers have life-saving access to enhanced 9-1-1 services. Whenever someone picks up the phone and dials 9-1-1, there should be someone on the other end of the line qualified to answer that call. This legislation would ensure VoIP customers can safely dial 9-1-1 in an emergency.
I supported several amendments to improve the legislation, including net neutrality. Establishing a net neutrality policy would protect the Internet's role as a home to innovation and ingenuity. Unfortunately, net neutrality and other consumer protection amendments did not pass. I will work with my colleagues as the legislative process continues to include these amendments in the final bill.