Supporters of high-speed Internet deregulation called on House le...

Supporters of high-speed Internet deregulation called on House leadership Wed. to place related legislation on floor calendar by year-end. House Telecom Subcommittee Chmn. Upton (R-Mich.) and other lawmakers unveiled letter from dozens of House supporters sent recently to House Speaker Hastert (R- Ill.) and Majority Leader Armey urging floor vote on bill by House Commerce Committee Chmn. Tauzin (R-La.) and ranking Democratic member Dingell (Mich.). Separate group of free- market economists sent letter Dec. 4 to White House, Council of Economic Advisers and Depts. of Commerce and Treasury seeking support for telecom deregulation, which they said could be accomplished through measures such as Tauzin- Dingell. Senate Commerce Committee Chmn. Hollings (D-S.C.) also held news briefing this week to reiterate his opposition to Tauzin-Dingell, which he said would re-monopolize Bell companies. He called on Congress to support bill he introduced earlier this year that would increase fines for companies that violated the competitive provisions of the 1996 Telecom Act.