U.S. Senator Ted Stevens (R-Ak) Holds a Hearing On Competition and Convergence

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U.S. Senator Ted Stevens (R-Ak) Holds a Hearing On Competition and Convergence

U.S. SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE AND TRANSPORTATION HOLDS A HEARING ON TELECOM COMPETITION AND CONVERGENCE

MARCH 30, 2006

SPEAKERS: U.S. SENATOR TED STEVENS (R-AK) CHAIRMAN U.S. SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN (R-AZ) U.S. SENATOR CONRAD BURNS (R-MT) U.S. SENATOR TRENT LOTT (R-MS) U.S. SENATOR KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON (R-TX) U.S. SENATOR OLYMPIA J. SNOWE (R-ME) U.S. SENATOR GORDON SMITH (R-OR) U.S. SENATOR JOHN ENSIGN (R-NV) U.S. SENATOR GEORGE ALLEN (R-VA) U.S. SENATOR JOHN E. SUNUNU (R-NH) U.S. SENATOR JIM DEMINT (R-SC) U.S. SENATOR DAVID VITTER (R-LA)

U.S. SENATOR DANIEL K. INOUYE (D-HI) CO-CHAIRMAN U.S. SENATOR JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER IV (D-WV) U.S. SENATOR JOHN F. KERRY (D-MA) U.S. SENATOR BYRON L. DORGAN (D-ND) U.S. SENATOR BARBARA BOXER (D-CA) U.S. SENATOR BILL NELSON (D-FL) U.S. SENATOR MARIA CANTWELL (D-WA) U.S. SENATOR FRANK R. LAUTENBERG (D-NJ) U.S. SENATOR BEN NELSON (D-NE) U.S. SENATOR MARK PRYOR (D-AR)

WITNESSES: KYLE MCSLARROW, PRESIDENT AND CEO, NATIONAL CABLE AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION

EARL COMSTOCK, PRESIDENT AND CEO, COMPTEL

WALTER MCCORMICK, PRESIDENT AND CEO, US TELECOM

STEVE LARGENT, PRESIDENT AND CEO, CTIA-THE WIRELESS ASSOCIATION

JERRY ELLIG, SENIOR RESEARCH FELLOW, MERCATUS CENTER, GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY

MARK COOPER, DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH, CONSUMER FEDERATION OF AMERICA

[*] STEVENS: Well, we regret the problem that we all had and I thank you for your patience.

Over the course of our series of 14 hearings, our committee has heard from wireless-wireline competitive cable, Internet, satellite and content industries as well as consumer groups and academic groups on a wide range of communications issues.

Today, we want to discuss the phenomenon of convergence and how it is changing the competitive landscape in today's market. Cell phone companies, Bells, CLECs, cable companies and satellite providers are capable of providing the same or similar services. Our committee wants to look at what that means for each of these industry segments and their consumers.

Already, consumers are clamoring for a quadruple play of local long, distance, video and data service on a single platform. Soon, consumers will be able to reach their video recording devices from their cell phones to either watch or record TV programs while on the move.

These technological changes will impact in how regulations are applied. Certainly, we have all heard about the importance of setting a level playing field as phone providers move into the video marketplace. Currently, the same bundles are often regulated differently dependi...

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