Report Delivered to Members of the House of Representatives on August 3, 1995

   
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   August 3, 1995
   
   Dear Representative:
   
   Re: The Communications Act of 1995, H.R. 1555 The Commercial Internet
   eXchange Association ("CIX") is a non-profit organization with a
   membership of over 160 Internet service providers. It represents
   nearly 75% of the Internet service providers in this country,
   including some telecommunications giants as well as some very small
   but innovative providers. While CIX objects to portions of the current
   version of the Communications Act of 1995, H.R. 1555 as amended by the
   manager's amendment, it urges your support for the "Internet Freedom
   and Family Empowerment Act" sponsored by Representatives Cox and
   Wyden.
   
   CIX shares the concerns of many industry participants that recent
   changes to H.R. 1555 create an imbalance in the market entry
   requirements for long distance providers and local loop accessrs. We
   believe that the proposed transition period of eighteen months is
   technically and logistically impractical. This imbalance will harm the
   telecommunications industry on which CIX members depend for provision
   of Internet access services. In particular, the current version of the
   bill appears to give a competitive advantage to local exchange
   carriers, and removes safeguards that protect the accessibility,
   quality, and economic feasibility of communications services.
   
   Although CIX was disappointed with some recent changes to the bill, it
   continues to support many of the fundamental principles, including the
   Cox/Wyden amendment. This amendment would remove the threat of
   unnecessary government regulation and protect from liability online
   service providers that monitor and screen content in order to create
   family-oriented services. The amendment also encourages user
   empowerment so that individuals may monitor and control the content
   they receive over their interactive systems.
   
   We believe that it is in the best interest of the country to strive
   for legislation that more effectively meets the needs of American
   consumers and the telecommunications industry. CIX members look
   forward to the new competitive environment and the opportunity to
   provide the new services that Americans will use to improve their
   productivity and quality of life. Therefore, we urge your support for
   the Cox/Wyden amendment and urge you to reconsider aspects of H.R.
   1555 that advantage one segment of the industry and harm competition
   overall.
   
   Respectfully,
   
   Robert D. Collet
   President
   (301) 495-4955
   
   
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