A letter from my Senator

June 19th, 2006 | Filed under Politics, Quotes

It’s not everyday that I get an email from one of my United States Senators, Pat Roberts. Especially one that manages to say absolutely nothing except “thank for you for writing” in over 288 words. I received this email in response to an email list I signed up for that would email my Senators and Congressman (I’d say Congressperson, but mine is a man) regarding the issue of Net Neutrality.

As previously stated, I’m very much in favor of net neutrality if for no other reason than that I don’t think the ISPs should be payed twice. Once for delivering me access to content via the Interwebs and a second time by the content creators (such as Google, Amazon, Rocketboom etc..) in return for not slowing down access to their site. Anyway, I could go into this for hours, but lets get to the real meat of the post, the letter from Roberts.

June 19, 2006

Dear Mr. Kappenman:

Thank you for writing me regarding the issue of net neutrality. I appreciate your taking the time to write.

The past century saw great changes in technology, bringing with it new or improved means of communications. These technological changes create an ever-shrinking world. However, they have also created new challenges in oversight. Congress has repeatedly updated telecommunications laws as new trends emerge. The most recent reorganization of telecommunications regulations came with the 1996 Telecommunications Act. Since 1996, we have experienced additional changes and challenges in the telecommunications industry. Congress recognizes these changes and has begun debating how to best alter current law to further promote competition, spur investment in infrastructure and stimulate technological advances.

I understand your concerns about net neutrality. This is an important topic of debate as Congress continues to consider numerous proposals to update our telecommunications laws. The Senate Commerce Committee is currently debating S. 2686, the Communications, Consumer’s Choice, and Broadband Deployment Act introduced by Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK). This legislation was introduced earlier this year and would make it easier for phone companies to compete with cable companies in the video market. Included in the bill is a provision that would direct the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to conduct an annual study on the issue of net neutrality, and if it finds problems, to make recommendations to Congress about what authority they need to address the issue. S. 2686 awaits further action by the Senate Commerce Committee.

As the debate surrounding renewal of the telecommunications laws continues, I will be sure to keep your comments in mind. I appreciate your taking the time to share your thoughts with me. I look forward to your continued advice and counsel.

With every best wish,

Sincerely,

Pat Roberts

Normally I wouldn’t quote the entirety of something like this, but rather pull out the juicy quotes and then link you to a full piece of content…however I can’t seem to find any piece of substantive information about the issue at hand or Sen. Roberts position. Instead I get hit with a bunch of facts about how Congress is “looking” into the issue as well as what some Senator from Arkansas is saying. That’s not why I emailed you Senator Roberts. I emailed you to voice my concerns and then to hear what you have to say about the issue. Instead I got a what is either a terribly crafted PR response or the Senators own reply which doesn’t speak to well about the transparency of my elected representative.

Learn what you can do to Save the Internet and contract your hopefully more helpful Senators and Congressman/woman.

p.s. Lennea has a great rant about our other Senator from Kansas. Sometimes I feel like we are in a loose/loose Senator situation here. Oh and check out Mike’s great photo, it is equally as applicable.