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A SENATOR: MADAM PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM VIRGINIA.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I
ASK THAT THE PROCEEDINGS UNDER
THE QUORUM BE DISPENSED WITH.
OBJECTION.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I
RISE TODAY IN OPPOSITION TO S.J.
RES. NUMBER 6.
THIS IS THE RESOLUTION THAT HAS
BEEN PUT FORWARD THAT WOULD
BASICALLY ROLL BACK THE F.C.C.'S
COMPROMISE OVER WHAT WE ALL
DEBATED AROUND, NET NEUTRALITY.
THIS IS A SUBJECT AREA AND
INTEREST AREA THAT I HAVE MORE
THAN A PASSING INTEREST IN.
THAT I HAD THE
GOOD FORTUNE AND AN AREA THAT I
HAD THE GOOD FORTUNE TO BE
INVOLVED IN BUSINESS IN FOR OVER
20 YEARS BEFORE I GOT INVOLVED
SERVICE.
I THINK I, AND I KNOW THE
PRESIDING OFFICER AND PROBABLY
MOST ALL OF US IN THIS BODY
RECOGNIZE THAT THE POWER OF
TELECOMMUNICATIONS, THE POWER OF
THE INTERNET TO TRANSFORM
PEOPLE'S LIVES HAS BEEN
REMARKABLE.
DEMAND FOR INTERNET USE IS
GROWING DRAMATICALLY.
TODAY NEARLY TWO BILLION PEOPLE
USE THE INTERNET.
BY THE TIME -- BY 2015, AND
THAT'S A MERE FOUR YEARS FROM
NOW, THAT NUMBER IS EXPECTED TO
REACH 2.7 BILLION.
THAT'S PRETTY SIGNIFICANT.
2.7 BILLION PEOPLE USING THE
INTERNET WHEN OUT OF A TOTAL
WORLDWIDE POPULATION, AS WE SAW
THIS WEEK OF SEVEN
BILLION FOLKS.
WE'RE RAPIDLY HITTING THE POINT
WHERE NEARLY HALF OF THE WORLD
WILL USE THE INTERNET IN ONE
FORM OR ANOTHER IN HOW THEY
COMMUNICATE, HOW WE AFFECT
COMMERCE, HOW WE SOCIALLY
INTERACT.
THIS IS A TOOL MAKING SURE THIS
TOOL, THIS NETWORK, THIS
TECHNOLOGY, THIS TRANSFORMATIVE
FIELD REMAINS OPEN, FREE AND
AVAILABLE TO ALL AND ISN'T
UNDULY HINDERED BY GOVERNMENT
REGULATION, SOMETHING THAT I
KNOW WE ALL ASPIRE TO.
YET, EVEN AS WE SEE THIS
INTEREST GROWTH IN THE INTERNET,
WE SEE CONSTRAINTS.
CONSTRAINTS PUT ON BY SPECTRUM
RESOURCES AND ACCESS TO
HIGH-SPEED BROADBAND.
WE SEE THE SPECTRUM CONSTRAINT
TAKING PLACE AT THE SAME TIME AS
PARTICULARLY MOBILE APP
PROVIDERS SEEM TO BE MULTIPLYING
DAY BY DAY.
THERE ARE ALREADY OVER 600,000
APPLICATIONS THIS YOU CANAPPLICATIONS THAT YOU CAN USE ON
YOUR APPLE PHONE.
ANDROID NOW HAS OVER 500,000
APPS.
ONE OF THE MOST INCREDIBLE
THINGS IS THE UNITED STATES,
WHICH IN MANY WAYS -- AND WHILE
CERTAIN DIFFERENT FIGURES LAY
CLAIM TO PERHAPS INVENTING THE
INTERNET, THE TRUTH IS THE
INTERNET WAS DEVELOPED BY
GOVERNMENT RESEARCH LINKING A
WHOLE SERIES OF COMPUTER
NETWORKS BACK IN THE LATE-1980'S
AND INTO THE EARLY 1990'S WHILE
THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN AT
THE FOREFRONT OF INTERNET
DEVELOPMENT, UNFORTUNATELY DUE
TO CERTAIN AMOUNTS OF THESE
BROADBAND CONSTRAINTS AND
SPECTRUM CONSTRAINTS, THE UNITED
STATES IS NO LONGER IN THAT
LEADERSHIP ROLE.
EXAMPLE, HOMES IN SOUTH
KOREA HAVE GREATER ACCESS TO
GREATER, FASTER ACCESS TO
BROADBAND THAN WE DO.
SO THE QUESTION WE HAVE AND THE
QUESTION THAT THE SENATE IN THIS
RESOLUTION IS DEBATING IS, HOW
DO WE MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE
TO GROW ACCESS TO BROADBAND,
MAKE SURE THAT THE INTERNET,
WITH ALL ITS WONDERFUL, NEW ALLY
CATIONS, IS AVAILABLE IN THE
MOST -- WONDERFUL, NEW,
APPLICATIONS IS AVAILABLE IN THE
MOST TECH MILLION TO- TECHNOLOGY-NEUTRAL WAY.
THE F.C.C. IS THATE PPROPRIATE
PLACE TO BE WRESTLING WITH THIS
THEY CAME OUT WITH AN ORDER THAT
REACHED SOME LEVEL OF COMPROMISE
BETWEEN A SERIES OF VERY STRONG
COMPETING INTERESTS.
BY NO MEANS DO I BELIEVE THAT
THE F.C.C. DECEMBER ORDER WAS
PERFECT.
BUT IT DOES REPRESENT A DRAMATIC
STEP FORWARD, AND A STEP FORWARD
MAJORITY OF PLAYERS IN
THE INDUSTRY HAVE REACHED SOME
ACCOMMODATION ON.
I DON'T BELIEVE THIS ORDER IN
ITSELF IS A SUFFICIENT ANSWER.
I DO BELIEVE WE IN CONGRESS ARE
GOING TO NEED AT SOME POINT TO
COME BACK AND REVIEW RT
TELECOMMUNICATION ACT OF 1996,
WHILE THAT OFFERED GREAT PROMISE
AND AS SOMEBODY WHO WAS STILL AT
THE PRIVATE SECTOR AT THE MOMENT
IN TIME, SOMEONE WHO THOUGHT WE
WERE GOING TO SEE TRUE ACCESS AT
THAT TIME, THAT DIDN'T COME TO
PASS.
SMACK, I HAVE GOT A NUMBER OF --
AS A MATTER OF FACT, I HAVE THE
G.A.O. NUMBER OF COMPANIES THAT
WENT DOWN THE TUBES ASSUMING
THAT 1996 ACT WOULD PASS.
IT DIDN'T PASS.
BUT HAVING CONGRESS REVISIT THE
1996 TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT IS
NOT WHAT IS DEBATING TODAY.
WHAT IS BEING DEBATING TODAY IS
WHETHER WE GO AHEAD AND ALLOW
THE F.C.C.'S COMPROMISE
PROPOSITION PUT OUT IN DECEMBER
TO MOVE FORWARD OR WHETHER WE
KIND OF REINTRODUCE FURTHER
POLITICS INTO THIS ISSUE, THEN
WE OUGHT TO NOT BE LETTING
POLITICS STAND IN THE WAY OF
TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION MOVING
FORWARD.
I DO KNOW SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES
WHO FEEL OTHERWISE ON THE OTHER
SIDE OF THE AISLE ARE ACTUALLY
THINKING THAT THE F.C.C.'S
COMPROMISE ORDER PUTS TOO MUCH
GOVERNMENT REGULATION OF
INTERVENTION -- OF INNOVATION.
I MUST RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE.
IF WE WERE TALKING ABOUT TOO
MUCH GOVERNMENT REGULATION OF
INNOVATION, I WOULD BE STRONGLY
STANDSAYING THAT THAT'S NOT WHAT WE
OUGHT TO BE DOING.
BUT WHAT WE ARE DOING AS WE
DEBATE THIS SO-CALLED
NET-NEUTRALITY ISSUE IS WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT THE RIGHTS AND THE
RESPONSIBILITIES OF NETWORK
OWNERS AND OPERATORS TO MANAGE
AND QUITE HONESTLY,
TO ALLOW THEM TOW RUN SUCCESSFUL
BUSINESSES BUT TO RUN SUCCESSFUL
BUSINESSES IN A FREE AND OPEN
WAY.
WE'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT THE
RIGHTS OF CONSUMERS TO HAVE
ACCESS FOR LAWFUL CONTENT ON THE
INTERNET WITHOUT ANY PREJUDICE,
WITHOUT HAVING THAT NETWORK
PROVIDER BEING ABLE TO CHOOSE
ONE CONTENT PROVIDER OVER
ANOTHER IN TERMS OF WHO GETS, IN
EFFECT, FIRST DIBS, FIRST ACCESS
TO THEIR NETWORK.
AND AGAIN, THE HISTORY -- THE
REGULATORY HISTORY ON THIS ISSUE
-- AND THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN
DEBATED ON AND OFF NOT JUST THIS
*** BUT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS
-- NOT JUST THIS YEAR BUT FOR A
NUMBER OF YEARS -- IN MANY WAYS
THE CURRENT ISSUE IN 2005 WHEN
BOTH THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATION
COMMISSION AND THE SUPREME COURT
DETERMINED SEPARATELY THAT
BROADBAND SERVICES SHOULD BE
RECLASSIFIED AS INFORMATION
SERVICES UNDER THE 1996
TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT INSTEAD
OF, AS TELECOMMUNICATIONS
SERVICES.
NOW FOR THOSE WHO DON'T LIVE
WITHIN THE RATHER ESOTERIC WORLD
OF TELECOM REGULATION WHAT DOES
THIS MEAN IN ENGLISH?
WELL, INFORMATION SERVICES HAVE
ALWAYS HAD A LIGHTER TOUCH OF
REGULATION THAN HAVE
TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES.
YOU THINK ABOUT THE ORIGINALS
REGULATION OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS
SERVICES GOING BACK LSH --
ALMOST BACK TO THE 1934 ACT WHEN
WE HAD IN EFFECT ONE TKDZ
PROVIDER.
IT WAS MA BELL.
YOU COULD PICK YOUR PHONE, AS
LONG AS TBAS BLACK AND AS LONG
AS EVERYBODY PAID THE SAME EXACT
ACCESS FEE.
AND WHEN WE HAD THAT KIND OF
MONOPOLISTIC SITUATION, CLEARLY
TELECOMMUNICATIONS HAD TO BE
REGULATED IN A MORE APPROPRIATE
WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT CONSUMERS
WERE PROTECTED.
EVOLUTION OF
TELECOM MOVE AND THE BREAKUP OF
MA BELL AND THE MOVIE TO OTHER
PROVIDERS, TELECOM SERVICES
STILL HAS REQUIRED -- I THINK
MOST FOLKS WOULD AGREE -- A
SLIGHTLY HEAVIER HAND OF
SERVICES.
SO THE NOTION BACK IN 2005 WHEN
THE SUPREME COURT AND THE F.C.C.
SAID, WHEN WE'VE GOT THIS
BRAND-NEW AREA OF BROADBAND, AND
AREA THAT IN 23005 WE DIDN'T
FULLY REALIZE THE POTENTIAL --
EVEN IN 2011 I'M NOT SURE WE
REALIZE THE FULL POTENTIAL OF --
BUT WHEN WE VIEW THIS AS
INFORMATION SERVICES AND
CONSEQUENTLY HAVE LESS
REGULATION THAT SHOULD BE VIEWED
AS A GOOD SIGN.
NOW, CONTRARY TO SOME IN THIS
DEBATE, THERE'S NEVER BEEN A
TIME WHEN THE MANAGEMENT OF THE
INTERNET OR THE
TELECOMMUNICATION NETWORKS WHICH
MAKE UP IN EFFECT THE BACKBONE
OF OUR INTERNET SYSTEM, WAS NOT
REGULATED.
AS AGAIN I MENTIONED EARLIER,
NETWORKS, COLLEGE THEY ARE
PASSING VOICE, DATA, NOW VIDEO
OR OTHERS, ALL HAVE HAD SOME
FORM OF REGULATION GOING BACK TO
THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT OF
1934.
SO THE QUESTION WE'VE BEEN --
WE'RE ASKED HERE TODAY IS, WHAT
KIND OF RULES DO WE WANT TO HAVE
AS AN ASIDE, TO MAKE SURE THAT
EVERYONE CAN HAVE FREE AND
UNFETTERED ACCESS TO THE
INTERNET AND SET THEIR LAWFUL CO
SHALL -- AND SO THAT THEIR
LAWFUL CONTENT CAN GET ONTO THE
INTERNET IN A WAY THAT AGAIN
ISN'T BIASED OR PREJUDICED BY
THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS PROVIDER
IN THE BACKGROUND?
TO ME, THAT MEANS THAT INTERNET
SERVICE PROVIDERS HAVE THE RIGHT
-- HAVE TO HAVE THE RIGHT TO
MANAGE THE NETWORKS THE BEST
THEY CAN.
AND THAT DOES MEAN THAT NETWORK
PROVIDERS HAVE TO HAVE THE
SOME LEVEL OF
CONTENT SO THEY CAN GENERATE
ENOUGH REVENUE SO THEY CAN
CONTINUE TO BUILD OUT THEIR
NETWORKS SO THAT PARTICULARLY
RURAL COMMUNITIES CAN HAVE
ACCESS TO THESE SERVICES.
I KNOW THE PRESIDING OFFICER IN
PARTS OF NORTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE
THERE ARE STILL AREAS THAT DON'T
HAVE FULL HIGH-SPEED INTERNET
I KNOW IN MY AREA, THERE ARE
STILL AREAS THAT DON'T HAVE
ACCESS TO FULL, HIGH-SPEED
BROADBAND CONNECTIONS.
AND WHILE BROADBAND CONNECTIVITY
DOESN'T GUARANTEE YOU ECONOMIC
SUCCESS, IT PRETTY MUCH IS A
PREREQUISITE FOR ANY COMMUNITY
IF THEY'RE EVEN GOING TO GET
LOOKED AT AS A POSSIBLE NEW
LOCATION FOR NEW JOBS.
SO WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT
YOU WILL COMMUNITIES GET ACCESS
TO BROADBAND AND THAT MEANS
YOU'VE GOT TO ALLOW THE NETWORK
PROVIDERS AT LEAST A RATE OF
RETURN TO GIVE THEM THE
INCENTIVES TO CONTINUE TO BUILD
OUT -- BUILD OUT THEIR NETWORKS.
BUT WILL ALSO MEANS -- THE FLIP
SIDE OF THIS ARGUMENT, WHILE THE
NETWORKS HAVE TO BE ABLE TO
MANAGE THE TELECOM PROVIDERS AND
CONTINUE TO BUILD THEM OUT, IT
ALSO MEANS THAT THESE I.S.P. --
INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS --
CANNOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST
CONTENT PROVIDERS ACCESS TO NET
IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT A NETWORK
PROVIDER OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO
SAY, I LIKE THIS CONTENT MORE
THAN THAT SET OF CONTENT,
PARTICULARLY IF THE NETWORK
PROVIDER HAPPENS TO OWN THAT
CONTENT AND SOMEHOW MOVE IT TO
THE FRONT OF THE LINE.
THAT GOES AGAINST THE GRAIN OF
EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN ABOUT
PROVIDING TELECOMMUNICATIONS IN
THIS COUNTRY, AGAIN SINCE THE
AND IF IT WAS -- IF THIS WAS A
SIMPLE MATTER, THE INDUSTRY, THE
F.C.C., AND OTHERS WOULDN'T HAVE
BEEN WRESTLING WITH IT AS
DRAMATICALLY AS THEY HAVE OVER
THE LAST FIVE OR SIX YEARS.
THE FACT IS THAT NETWORK
MANAGEMENT IS INCREASINGLY
COMPLICATED.
SO COMPLICATED THAT SOMETIMES
IT'S HARD TO TELL EXACTLY WHAT'S
GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES.
AS A FORMER TELECOMMUNICATIONS
EXECUTIVE AND SOMEBODY WHO SPENT
20 YEARS BEING INVOLVED IN
HELPING TRY TO BUILD OUT AT
LEAST PART OF THE WIRELESS
NETWORK IN THIS COUNTRY BUT AS
SOMEBODY WHO ALSO IS AT THIS
POINT FALLING BEHIND ON ALL THE
CURRENT TECHNOLOGY INNOVATIONS,
I'D LIKE TO COMMENT THAT I WAS
VERY CURRENT CIRCA 1999, WHICH
PUTS ME IN 2011 A BIT BEHIND,
BUT WHILE BEHIND, I DO RECOGNIZE
AND UNDERSTAND THAT NETWORK
MANAGEMENT IN 2011 AND GOING
CHALLENGING.
NEW TECHNOLOGIES THAT ALLOW FOR
PRIORITIZATION OF NETWORK
DEEP DEEP-PACT INSPECTION
AND THE INCREASING USE OF
METERED SERVICE AND USAGE-BASED
PRICING -- ALL THESE COMBINING
FACTORS, COMBINED WITH AN EFFORT
TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE,
IN EFFECT, TECHNOLOGY-NEUTRAL IN
TERMS OF HOW WE GET THIS
HIGH-SPEED BROADBAND
INFORMATION, WHETHER IT'S WIRED,
WIRELESS, SATELLITE OR OTHERWISE,
REALLY MAKES THESE ISSUES
EXTRAORDINARILY DIFFICULT FOR
POLICY MAKERS TO WRESTLE WITH.
SO IT WAS IN THAT VEIN THAT THE
S.E.C. CONDUCTED -- THE F.C.C.
CONDUCTED A PROCESS TO ADDRESS
CONCERNS TO MAIN MAIN NEUTRAL
ACCESS TO THE INTERNET.
SO IN DECEMBER 23010, THE F.C.C.
ADOPTED AN OPEN INTERNET ORDER
WHICH IS EXPECTED TO BE
IMPLEMENTED ON NOVEMBER 20 OF
THIS YEAR, 2011.
AGAIN, AS I SAID AT THE OUTSET,
THE ORDER THAT THEY PUT FORWARD
IS NOT PERFECT.
THE INDUSTRY
WHO HAVE A PARTIAL BONE TO PICK
WITH VARIOUS TECHNICAL
BUT THE FACT IS WHAT THE
F.C.C.DON -- AND I GIVE CHAIRMAN
GENACHOWSKI CREDIT -- IS THE
ABILITY TO THREAD THE NEED UNTIL
A WAY THAT WHILE NO ONE IS
TOTALLY HAPPY, NO ONE IS TOTALLY
UNHAPPY AND THIS ISSUE OF NET
NEUTRALITY CAN NOW BE IN EFFECT
DEALT WITH BY THE ORDER AND WE
CAN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT STEP OF
THE DEBATE, WHICH IS HOW DO WE
MAKE SURE THAT WE ACTUALLY
COMPLETE THE BUILDOUT OF NET "W"
PARTICULARLY TO RURAL
COMMUNITIES AROUND AMERICA?
WHAT DOES THE F.C.C. ORDER DO?
IT BASICALLY SETS THREE BASIC
RULES FOR HOW NETWORK OWNERS --
I.S.P.'S -- MUST HANDLE INTERNET
TRAFFIC.
FIRST, IT OFFERS GREATER
TRANSPARENCY ABOUT FIXED AND
MOBILE NETWORK MANAGEMENT
PRACTICES TO BOTH CONSUMERS AND
CONTENT PROVIDERS.
THIS IS TERRIBLY IMPORTANT.
WITHOUT THAT TRANSPARENCY,
WITHOUT THAT KNOWLEDGE TO KIND
OF SEE WHAT YOU'RE GETTING AS A
CONSUMER OR IF YOU'RE A CONTENT
PROVIDER MAKING SURE THAT YOUR
TRAFFIC IS NOT BEING BUMPED OUT
OF LINE BY SOME LARGE NETWORK
OPERATOR, IS TERRIBLY IMPORTANT.
SECOND, IT PREVENTS FIXED AND
MOBILE NETWORK PROVIDERS FROM
BLOCKING TRAFFIC GENERATED BY
COMPETITORS TO VARYING DEGREES.
AGAIN WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
IT MEANS THAT IF YOU ARE A
NETWORK MANAGER, IF YOU ARE A
NETWORK PROVIDER, AND MANY
NETWORK PROVIDERS ARE NOW
STARTING TO ALSO OWN CONTENT AS
WELL, YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
IF YOU ARE A COMPETITOR IN TERMS
OF CONTENT PROVIDER, THAT YOUR
NETWORK -- THE NETWORK THAT YOU
MAY BE PUTTING YOUR TRAFFIC ON
THAT HAS ITS OWN SET OF CONTENT
ISN'T ALLOWING ITS NETWORK-OWNED
GET PRIORITY, TO GET
AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE.
AGAIN, IN TERMS OF IF THE
NETWORKS ARE GOING TO BE IN
EFFECT THE KIND OF OPEN,
ACCESSIBLE AND NEUTRAL NETWORKS
THAT WE'VE ALL COME TO EXPECT
FROM OUR TELECOMMUNICATIONS
NETWORKS IN THE PAST, YOU GOT TO
MAKE SURE THERE IS NO BIAS, THE
SECOND PART OF WHAT THE F.C.C.'S
ORDER DOES IS TRY TO MIKE MAKE SURE
THAT THESE FIXED NETWORK
PROVIDERS AREN'T ABLE TO BLOCK
THIRD IT PROHIBITS FIXED
BROADBAND PROVIDERS FROM
UNREASONABLE DISCRIMINATORY
AGAIN, THIS IS ABOUT BOTH
CONTENT BUT IT ALSO TRIES TO GET
AT THAT ISSUE OF WHAT DO YOU
DEAL, HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THOSE
FOLKS WHO HAVE HUGE AMOUNTS OF
CONTENT THAT IN EFFECT TRY TO
FLOOD THE NETWORK THAT CAN CAUSE
CLOGGING OF THE NETWORK?
YOU GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT -- WE
TO HAVE *** ACCESS.
YOU CAN'T HAVE PEOPLE SO
OVERWHELM THE NETWORK WITH THEIR
PARTICULAR CONTENT WITHOUT SOME
ABLGHT TO PRICE THAT -- ABILITY
TO PRICE THAT IN THE NETWORK
PROVIDER'S BASIC SERVICE
AGAIN,
I KNOW MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES
MAY -- THEIR EYES ARE STARTING
TO GEL.
I EVEN SEE SOME OF THE PAGES'
EYES ARE STARTING TO GEL AS WE
DIVE INTO SOME OF THE CANDIDATE
IS IS OF TELE-- INTRACACIES OF
SOME OF THE TELECOMMUNICATION,
F.C.C.'S PRACTICES HERE.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY,
UNLESS THE SENATE REJECTS IT AND
THROWS ALL THE WORK OUT THE
WINDOW AND SAYS LET'S GO BACK TO
SQUARE ONE, WHICH I THINK WOULD
DO GREAT HARM TO THE PROGRESS
MADE AND PROVIDE EVEN GREATER
UNCERTAINTY TO ONE OF THE
FASTEST-GROWING AREAS OF OUR
ECONOMY -- TELECOMMUNICATIONS
AND BROADBAND -- IF WE REJECT
THIS SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 6,
WHICH I HOPE WE WILL, ALLOW THIS
COMPROMISE THAT THE F.C.C.
WORKED OUT TO MOVE FORWARD, I DO
BELIEVE IT WILL ALLOW THE KIND
OF BROADBAND GROWTH, THE KIND OF
INTERNET GROWTH THAT WE'VE ALL
COME TO WANT, EXPECT, AND THAT
WILL HELP GENERATE JOBS IN THIS
COUNTRY.
AGAIN, THE WIRELESS ISSUES, A
COUPLE OF FINAL POINTS, THE
WIRELESS ISSUES IN THIS AREA ARE
PARTICULARLY CHALLENGING.
WIRELESS, AT LEAST IN TERMS OF
BROADBAND IS A NEWER TECHNOLOGY.
AND, AGAIN, THE F.C.C. IN THIS
AREA DECIDED TO ADOPT A LIGHTER
HAND OF REGULATION THAN THE MORE
STRICT FULL TELECOMMUNICATIONS
REGULATION OF THE 1996 ACT IN
TERMS OF MOBILE.
AND WE'VE SEEN THIS TREMENDOUS
GROWTH IN MOBILE.
AS OF DECEMBER 2010, 26% OF U.S.
HOUSEHOLDS WERE WIRELESS ONLY
COMPARED TO ABOUT 8% OF THE
HOUSEHOLDS FIVE YEARS AGO.
THE POINT HERE IS A DRAMATIC
I THINK ABOUT MY KIDS WHO, AS
THEY START TO MOVE TO THEIR OWN
HOMES OR EVEN TO COLLEGE, DON'T
EVEN HAVE A FIXED WIRELESS PHONE
IN THEIR APARTMENT IN COLLEGE.
THEY WILL RELY ENTIRELY ON
WIRELESS.
WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
CAN CONTINUE TO BUILD OUT THESE
WIRELESS NETWORKS IN THE MOST
ROBUST WAY POSSIBLE.
AGAIN, I THINK THE F.C.C.
BASICALLY PWOT IT RIGHT BY --
BASICALLY GOT IT RIGHT BY NOT
PUTTING A MORE HEAVY HAND OF
REGULATION ON THIS WIRELESS
BUILDOUT BUT BY PUTTING THE
LIGHTER HAND OF REGULATION.
IN CLOSING, TO ME THE REAL ISSUE
IS HOW DO WE ASSURE CONSUMERS
AND CONTENT PROVIDERS ARE
TREATED FAIRLY?
THE INTERNET WAS DESIGNED AS AN
OPEN MEDIUM WHERE EVERY SERVICE
AND WEB SITE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY
TO GAIN A FOLLOWING AND TO BE
SUCCESSFUL TH-FPLT FLOSS -- THIS
PHILOSOPHY ALLOWS BLOGGERS TO
COMPETE WITH MAINSTREAM MEDIA
AND ENTREPRENEURS ACROSS ALL
SECTORS TO COMPETE GLOBALLY.
SMALL AND MEDIUM BUSINESSES THAT
RELY HEAVILY ON WEB TECHNOLOGIES
TO GROW AND EXPORT TWO TIMES AS
MUCH BUSINESSES AS THOSE THAT
DON'T ACCORDING TO MACKENZIE.
SOME HAVE ARGUED THAT NEITHER
THE CONGRESS NOR THE F.C.C.
SHOULD DO ANYTHING IN THIS AREA
BECAUSE THERE ISN'T A WIDESPREAD
PROBLEM CURRENTLY.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT
THE REASON THAT THE INTERNET HAS
BEEN SUCCESSFUL, SO SUCCESSFUL
HAS BEEN THE FACT THAT NO ONE
HAS BEEN ABLE TO CONTROL IT.
NO NETWORK PROVIDER ALONE, NO
CONTENT PROVIDER ALONE.
I HOPE THAT NEVER CHANGES.
AND I DO BELIEVE THAT THE
RESOLUTION THAT THE F.C.C.
REACHED IN THEIR ORDER IN
DECEMBER THAT, AGAIN, MY HOPE IS
THAT THE CONGRESS WILL MOVE
FORWARD ON AND ALLOW TO GO INTO
ACTION; AGAIN, HELP SET THOSE
MINIMUM RULES OF THE ROAD THAT
WILL ALLOW BOTH INTERNET GROWTH,
BROADBAND GROWTH, MOBILE GROWTH,
STATES CAN REGAIN THE LEAD AND
IN REGAINING THAT LEAD CONTINUE
TO CREATE JOBS AND ADVANCE
PROSPERITY.
WITH THAT, MR. PRESIDENT, I
YIELD THE FLOOR AND NOTE THE
ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
THE
CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM ARKANSAS.
MR. PRESIDENT, I
VITIATED.
OBJECTION.
MR. PRESIDENT, I
HAVE SEVEN UNANIMOUS CONSENT
REQUESTS FOR COMMITTEES TO MEET
SENATE.
THEY HAVE THE APPROVAL OF THE
MAJORITY AND MINORITY LEADERS.
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT
THESE REQUESTS BE AGREED TO AND
THAT THESE REQUESTS BE PRINTED
IN THE RECORD.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
THANK YOU,
MR. PRESIDENT.
MR. PRESIDENT, WE ARE
CONSIDERING SOME VETERANS
LEGISLATION THIS WEEK, AND I
RISE TODAY TO RECOGNIZE THE MEN
AND WOMEN WHO HAVE SELFISHLY
SERVED OUR NATION -- SELFLESSLY
SERVED OUR NATION.
VETERANS DAY IS APPROACHING.
IT'S ONE WAY TO REMIND OURSELVES
THAT THE SACRIFICES SO MANY HAVE
MADE AND CONTINUE TO MAKE FOR
OUR COUNTRY.
PAY TRIBUTE TO INDIVIDUALS
LIKE SPECIALIST SARINA BUTCHER.
FOR THE PAST 18 MONTHS SHE
SERVED WITH VALOR AND
DISTINCTION IN AFGHANISTAN AS AN
AUTOMATED LOGISTICAL SPECIALIST
WITH THE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD.
SHE EARNED AWARDS INCLUDING THE
NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL,
THE ARMY SERVICE RIBBON, AND THE
OKLAHOMA GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL.
SHE DREAMED OF BECOMING A NURSE,
JOINING THE GUARD TO HELP HER
ALONG THAT PATH TO SUPPORT HER
TWO-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER.
LAST WEEK AT 19 YEARS OLD,
SPECIALIST BUTCHER PAID THE
ULTIMATE SACRIFICE.
SPECIALIST BUTCHER WAS THE FIRST
FEMALE OKLAHOMA NATIONAL GUARD
SOLDIER TO BE KILLED DURING
WARTIME AND THE YOUNGEST GUARD
MEMBER TO DIE IN COMBAT IN IRAQ
AND AFGHANISTAN.
I SPOKE TO HER MOTHER, A
RESIDENT OF ELDORADO, ARKANSAS,
AND SHE STRESSED HOW HER
DAUGHTER LOVED SERVING OUR
NATION.
MY PRAYERS AND ALL OF OUR
PRAYERS ARE WITH HER FAMILY.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE
COULD REMEMBER DAVID BIXLER OF
HARRISON, ARKANSAS.
I RECENTLY HAD A CHANCE TO MEET
DAVID, ONE OF FIVE SERVICE
MEMBERS CHOSEN BY THE U.S.O. FOR
BRAVERY AND SACRIFICE.
WHILE ON FOOT PATROL IN
AFGHANISTAN, COULD REMEMBER
BIX -- CORPORAL BIXLER SERVED ON
AN PHROEBGS SEIVE LIFE.
THE EXPLOSION RESULTED IN THE
LOSS OF BOTH OF HIS LEGS.
I WAS MOVED BY HIS UNWAVERING
STRENGTH AND COURAGE.
I ALSO SPOKE WITH HIS YOUNG
DAUGHTER AND IT WAS EASY TO SEE
THE PRIDE THAT SHE HAS FOR HER
THESE TWO HEROES, SARINA AND
DAVID ARE PART OF A LONG LIST OF
ARKANSANS THROUGHOUT OUR STATE'S
HISTORY THAT ANSWERED THE CALL
TO SERVE.
THEIR RESOLVE, LIKE THE SAME --
LIKE THAT SAME DEDICATION AND
LOVE OF COUNTRY THAT BROUGHT
DOWN OSAMA BIN LADEN WAS PASSED
THEM.
THEY JOINED THE RANKS THE SECOND
LIEUTENANT JOHN ALEXANDER OF
HELENA, THE SECOND
AFRICAN-AMERICAN GRADUATE FROM
WEST POINT.
BRIGADIER GENERAL WILLIAM DARBY
OF FORT SMITH, FIRST COMMANDER
OF U.S. ARMY RANGERS.
AND CAPTAIN MAURICE FOOTSEE
BRITT OF CARLISLE, THE FIRST TO
RECEIVE THE MILITARY'S THREE
HIGHEST MEDALS FOR BRAVERY.
ARKANSANS SERVING IN THE
MILITARY HAVE NEVER WAVERED WHEN
THEIR COUNTRY CALLED, WHETHER
ACTIVE GUARD OR RESERVE, THEY
HAVE PARTICIPATED IN OUR CURRENT
EFFORTS ABROAD AND COUNTLESS
PREVIOUS ONES.
THESE EFFORTS CONTINUE TO THIS
DAY.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE ARKANSAS
NATIONAL GUARD'S AGRICULTURE
DEVELOPMENT TEAM WORKED WITH THE
FARMERS AND HERDSMEN IN SOUTH
THE 77th THEATRE AVIATION
BRIGADES WERE IN IRAQ WITH
COMMAND AND CONTROL ASSETS IN
THE SOUTH.
LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE
CONTINUES TO SUPPORT TACTICAL
MOLT OPERATIONS -- MILITARY
OPERATIONS AROUND THE GLOBAL
WHILE TRAINING FUTURE
TODAY OUR COUNTRY IS FACING MANY
CHALLENGES FROM RISING
UNEMPLOYMENT AMONG OUR VETERANS
TO EVER-TIGHTENING BUDGETS.
WE SHOULD NOT LET OUR CURRENT
FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES TAKE AWAY
WHO SERVED.
WHEN LOOKING FOR D.O.D. SAVINGS,
WE MUST KEEP IN MIND THAT WHEN
THESE INDIVIDUALS JOINED THE
SERVICE, BOTH SIDES MADE A
COMMITMENT.
WE MUST HONOR THESE COMMITMENTS.
WHEN LOOKING FOR WAYS TO SAVE,
WE SHOULD PUT OUR FOCUS ON
IMPROVING PROCESSES AND
WE CAN.
FOR EXAMPLE, I RECENTLY
INTRODUCED THE VETERANS RELIEF
ACT DESIGNED TO REDUCE THE
BACKLOG AT THE COURT OF APPEALS
FOR VETERANS CLAIMS.
I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK FOR
SIMILAR WAYS TO STREAMLINE
PROCESSES, IMPROVE EFFICIENCIES
AND HONOR THE OBLIGATIONS TO
THOSE WHO SERVED.
TODAY I LOOK AT OUR VETERANS AND
SAY THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SACRIFICE.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR
DEDICATION TO OUR COUNTRY.
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO
ARTICULATE THE SCALE OF MY GRAD
TAOUD AND I WILL -- GRATITUDE
AND I WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT
MEASURES THAT HONOR THE VETERANS
OF YESTERDAY, TODAY AND
TOMORROW.
MR. PRESIDENT, WITH THAT, I
YIELD THE FLOOR, AND I SUGGEST
THE ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
THE
CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
CALL:
MR. PRESIDENT,
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE
SENATE PROCEED TO THE
CONSIDERATION OF S. RES. 315,
INTRODUCED HE WILLIER TODAY.
THERE
IS A QUORUM CALL IN PROGRESS.
I ASK THAT THE
QUORUM CALL BE DISPENSED WITH.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
I ASK THAT THE
SENATE PROCEED TO S. RES. 315
INTRODUCED EARLIER TODAY.
CLERK WILL REPORT.
COMMENDING THE S.
LOUIS CARDINALS ON THEIR
HARD-FOUGHT WORLD SERIES
VICTORY.
OBJECTION, THE SENATE WILL
FROATD MEASURE.
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT THE RESOLUTION BE
AGREED TO, THE PREAMBLE BE
AGREED TO, THE MOTION TO
RECONSIDER BE LAID ON THE TABLE,
WITH NO INTERVENING ACTION OR
DEBATE AND ANY RELATED
STATEMENTS BE PRINTED IN THE
RECORD AS IF READ.
OBJECTION.
MR. PRESIDENT,
IN ST. LOUIS THIS FALL, WE HAD
MANY THINGS THAT WERE SPECIAL
AND DIFFERENT.
WE HAD THE RALLY SQUIRREL THAT
RAN THROUGH ONE OF THE PLAYOFF
GAMES.
WE HAD THE HAPPY FLIGHT.
AND HAPPY FLIGHT BECAME
SYNONYMOUS WITH A TEAM THAT WAS
CHALKING UP IMPROBABLE VICTORIES
NIGHT AFTER NIGHT, DAY AFTER
THIS SPEECH IS -- I'M GOING TO
TERM IT A HAPPY SPEECH.
I'VE HAD TO GIVE A NUMBER OF
SPEECHES ON THE FLOOR OF THE
SENATE SINCE HE HAVE A BEEN
BLESS THE ENOUGH TO BE GIVEN
THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE MY
SOMETIMES I COME TO THE FLOOR
SOMETIMES I COME TO THE FLOOR
FRUSTRATED OR UPSET.
SOMETIMES I COME WITH A PASSION
FOR A PIECE OF POLICY THAT I
THINK IS ESSENTIAL IN TERMS OF
OUR GOVERNMENT OPERATING THE WAY
WE WOULD WANT IT TO OPERATE.
TODAY I JUST COME HAPPY.
I JUST COME HAPPY WITH THE
NOTION THAT OUR TEAM PROVIDED
THE KIND OF THRILLS THAT
BASEBALL YEARNS FOR IN THIS
COUNTRY, ESPECIALLY AT THESE
MOMENTS WHEN MANY FAMILIES ARE
FACED WITH LONG DAYS AND TOUGH
DECISIONS AS THEY TRY TO RIGHT
THE SHIP, AS WE'VE TRAVELED
THROUGH A VERY DIFFICULT
ECONOMY.
THE 2011 WORLD SERIES WAS AN
UNLIKELY ONE FOR OUR CARDINALS.
IT WASN'T SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN.
BOOKIES MADE A LOT OF MONEY OFF
THE WORLD SERIES THIS YEAR
BECAUSE THE CARDINALS WEREN'T
SUPPOSED TO BE IN IT.
THE CARDINALS WERE 10.5 GAMES
OUT WITH 30 DAYS TO GO.
IN FACT, THE CARDINALS SECURED
THEIR WILDCARD BERTH ON THE LAST
DAY OF THE SEASON, AT THE 11th
HOUR.
AND AS A WILDCARD TEAM, THEY
WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO DO WELL.
THEY WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO BEAT
PHILADELPHIA.
THAT WASN'T GOING TO HAPPEN.
PHILADELPHIA IS ONE OF THE
TOP-THREE PAYROLLS IN BASEBALL,
RIGHT?
THAT WASN'T GOING TO HAPPEN.
WELL IT DID.
AND WE WON AGAINST PHILADELPHIA,
AND THEN WE TOOK ON THE MIGHTY
BREWERS, THE WINNER OF OUR
DIVISION, AND OF COURSE WE WON
THAT ALSO.
AND THEN IT WAS ON TO THE TEXAS
RANGERS, WHO WERE SUPPOSED TO
WIN THIS YEAR BECAUSE THEY WON
IT LAST YEAR AND WE WEREN'T
SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO COMPETE
WITH THE DEPTH AND BREADTH OF
THE TEXAS LINEUP AND AS EVERYONE
NOW KNOWS, THAT'S NOT HOW THE
STORY ENDED.
UNIQUE WORLD SERIES.
IT WAS FUN.
I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO
BE AT SOME OF THE GAMES.
I WAS AT GAME THREE WHEN ALBERT
PUJOLS PUT ON A SHOW FOR THE
ROAD.
HE SHOWED EVERYONE WHY HE IS THE
BEST PLAYER IN BASEBALL.
THREE TOWERING HOME RUNS IN ONE
WORLD SERIES GAME AND ALL OF AD
IS HIS NAME WAS IN THE SAME
SENTENCE AS LOU GEHRIG.
IT WAS A SPECIAL NIGHT TO WATCH
THE CARDINALS POUND THE RANGERS
IN ARLINGTON, TEXAS.
BUT THE RANGERS CAME BACK THE
NEXT NIGHT TO WIN AND THE NEXT
NIGHT AFTER THAT.
AND THE CARDINALS RETURNED TO
ST. LOUIS ONCE AGAIN WITH THEIR
BACKS AGAINST THE WALL, ONCE
AGAIN EVERYONE ASSUMING IT WAS
OVER BECAUSE ALL THE RANGERS HAD
TO DO WAS WIN ONE GAME.
AND THAT'S WHEN GAME SIX
OCCURRED.
AND I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE AT
GAME SIX, AND I'M SAVING MY
TICKET STUB FOR GENERATIONS TO
PEOPLE IN ST. LOUIS ARE GOING TO
CLAIM THEY WERE AT GAME SIX.
I AM GOING TO SAVE THE PROOF
BECAUSE ALL OF US WILL NEVER
FORGET GAME SIX.
AT OUR 11th HOUR, TRYING TO
WIN OUR 11th WORLD
CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE YEAR 2011,
OUR HOMETOWN GUY RIGHT FROM ST.
LOU
GRADUATED FROM LAFAYETTE HIGH
SCHOOL, WALKED TO THE PLATE IN
THE 11th INNING, AFTER THE
CARDINALS TWICE WITH TWO OUTS
AND TWO STRIKES SAVED THE GAME
BY GETTING A HIT -- TWICE.
NOT ONCE BUT TWICE.
SO THERE WE WERE IN THE BOTTOM
OF THE 11th WITH THE SCORE
TIED.
AND OUR HOMETOWN GUY AT OUR
11th HOUR IN THE 11th INNING
IN THE YEAR 2011 CRACKED THE BAT
AND THAT BALL SAILED OUT FOR A
HOME RUN AND WE HAD WON THE MOST
IMPROBABLE AND EXCITING VICTORY
IN WORLD SERIES HISTORY.
NOW, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THAT'S
BUT HONESTLY, I DON'T THINK SO.
FIND SOMEONE WHO WATCHED THAT
GAME WHO KNOWS BASEBALL, AND
THEY WILL TELL YOU THAT THAT IS
AMONG ONE OF THE VERY BEST WORLD
SERIES GAMES IN THE HISTORY OF
AMERICAN BASEBALL.
AND WHAT A HISTORY THAT IS.
WITH THAT ONE CRACK OF THE BAT,
CARDINAL NATION BECAME CARDINAL
WORLD.
AND ALL OF THE WORLD STOOD IN
AMAZEMENT AS WE CHEERED LIKE
CRAZY FOR OUR CARD NASSMENTS --
FOR OUR CARDINALS.
WHAT DID THIS TEAM DO THIS YEAR?
WE HAD A MASTERFUL MANAGER WHO
WE'LL MISS VERY MUCH.
WE HAD DAVID FREIS, OUR HOMETOWN
GUY, WE HAD ALBERT PUJOL SNCHTS
WE HAD CARP, WHO IS JUST AMAZING
AS A PITCHER.
WE HAD A BULLPEN, THAT ROSE.
WE HAD YADI.
WE HAD CRAIG.
WE HAD SO MANY OF OUR PLAYERS
THAT DID WHAT HAD TO BE DONE
WHEN IT HAD TO BE DONE TO
DELIVER A WORLD SERIES
CHAMPIONSHIP TO A CITY THAT
LOVES THEM MORE THAN WE LOVE THE
ARCH AND MORE THAN WE LOVE OUR
BEER.
FOR YEARS NOW YOUNG PEOPLE WILL
AGAIN THAT
QUIT.
YOU CAN NEVER GIVE UP."
AND I'VE GOT TO HE WILL THANK
YOU THE TRUTH.
IT'S A CLICHE I'VE USED WITH MY
OWN KIDS.
THEY'RE MOPING AROUND, OH, MY
LIFE IS HOWCIAL.
SAY, YOU CAN'T QUIT.
YOU CAN'T GIVE UP.
THIS TEAM GOING TO ALLOW PARENTS
AND TEENS IN ST. LOU TOYS SAY
FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, SEE ...
SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DON'T
GIVE UP?
SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU REFUSE
TO QUIT?
YOU CAN WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP IF
YOU JUST REFUSE TO DIE.
CARDINALS DID.
ON BEHALF OF CARDINAL NATION AND
THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE AROUND THIS COUNTRY THAT
WERE PROUD OF WHAT ST. LOUIS
REPRESENTED, A FALL CLASSIC WITH
OUR CLASSIC CARDINALS BRINGING
HOME THE VICTORY FOR A CITY THAT
LOVES THEM.
GOD BLESS THEM ALL AND GOD BLESS
THE FANS THAT UNDERSTAND THAT
SACK
FLY, THAT UNDERSTAND BASEBALL
BETTER THAN MOST FANS AROUND THE
COUNTRY, THAT WILL NOW WAIT
ANXIOUSLY FOR SPRING TRAINING SO
WE CAN BEGIN ONCE AGAIN OUR LOVE
AFFAIR WITH THE ST. YOU LOUIS
CARDINALS.
THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
I YIELD THE FLOOR.
AND I ASK FOR A QUARREL.
A QUORUM.
CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
67
QUORUM CALL:
TO BE UNITED STATES CIRCUIT
JUDGE.
UNDER THE
PREVIOUS ORDER, THERE WILL BE 15
MINUTES OF DEBATE EQUALLY
DIVIDED AND CONTROLLED BETWEEN
THE SENATORS FROM VERMONT AND
THE SENATOR FROM IOWA OR THEIR
DESIGNEES.
MR. PRESIDENT, I
SUGGEST THE ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
THE CLERK
WILL CALL THE ROLL.
CALL:
THE
SENATOR FROM IOWA.
I ASK THAT THE
OFF.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT ALL TIME BE YIELDED
WITHOUT