FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 29, 2006

CFIF Applauds Senate Commerce Committee Vote on Consumers' Choice and Broadband Deployment Act

ALEXANDRIA, VA – Yesterday, the Senate Commerce Committee voted 15 - 7 to send the Communications, Consumers' Choice and Broadband Deployment Act of 2006 to the full Senate.  In response, Center for Individual Freedom President Jeffrey Mazzella released the following statement:

"We applaud the Senate Commerce Committee for voting for consumer choice and for defeating the Snowe-Dorgan Net Neutrality amendment which would have amounted to massive regulation of the Internet.

"In total, yesterday's Committee action is a win for consumers, freedom and the Internet.  For too long the regulatory climate has enabled cable companies to operate with virtually no competition, and consumers have been forced to pay the price.  Yesterday's vote brings consumers one step closer to real choice in video services and lower prices across the board.  

"Furthermore, this legislation will ignite private investment in the deployment of much-needed high-speed networks, helping to close the broadband divide, sparking new innovation and generating tens of thousands of new jobs for Americans.

"The full Senate will now consider this important measure.  We encourage Majority Leader Frist to schedule a vote on this legislation as soon as possible."

The Center for Individual Freedom (www.cfif.org) is a non-profit constitutional and free-market advocacy organization.  CFIF opposes over-burdensome state and federal regulations and taxing regimes that impede the evolution of the Internet and e-commerce.