PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.
H.R.1542 / 107th Congress

Internet Freedom and Broadband Deployment Act of 2001

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Apr 24, 2001

Internet Freedom and Broadband Deployment Act of 2001 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to define "high speed data service" as a service capable of transmitting electronic information at a rate generally not less than 384 kilobits per second in at least one direction.Prohibits the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and each State from regulating the rates, charges, terms or conditions for, or entry into the provision of, any high speed data service or Internet access service, or to regulate the facilities used in the provision of such service. Prohibits the FCC from requiring an incumbent (established) local exchange carrier to: (1) provide unbundled access to any network elements used in the provision of any high speed data service, other than those elements described in FCC regulations; or (2) offer for resale at wholesale rates any high speed data service.Requires each incumbent local exchange carrier to provide: (1) Internet users with the ability to subscribe to and have access to any Internet service provider that interconnects with such carrier's high speed data service; (2) any Internet service provider with the right to acquire necessary facilities and services to facilitate such interconnection; and (3) any Internet service provider with the ability to collocate equipment in order to achieve such interconnection.Includes high speed data service or Internet access service within the definition of "incidental interLATA services" permitted for a Bell operating company.

Read the summary on Congress.gov
PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

Who introduced it

Rep. Tauzin, W. J. (Billy) [R-LA-3] · R–LA

Committees

  • Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
  • Judiciary Committee
  • Energy and Commerce Committee
112 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

  1. Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

  2. The Clerk was authorized to correct section numbers, punctuation, and cross references, and to make other necessary technical and conforming corrections in the engrossment of H.R. 1542.

  3. Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  4. On passage Passed by recorded vote: 273 - 157 (Roll no. 45).

    House roll call 45 · Individual votes
  5. Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 273 - 157 (Roll no. 45).

    House roll call 45 · Individual votes
  6. On motion to recommit with instructions, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.

  7. On motion to amend the Markey motion to recommit with instructions Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H602-603)

  8. AMENDMENT TO MARKEY MOTION - The Buyer amendment to the original Markey motion to recommit with instructions seeks to include the provisions of amendment numbered 3 printed in part B of House Report 107-361. Amendment numbered 3 guarantees that CLECs have access to customers served by Bell company high speed networks under FCC-regulated rates, terms, and conditions. The amendment preserves rules governing CLECs access to Bell facilities, including a rule that permits CLECs to "line share" on Bell copper facilities exclusively for the purpose of providing high speed internet service. Finally, it requires Bell companies to allow CLECs to connect their own high speed Internet facilities to Bell services and equipment.

  9. Mr. Buyer moved to amend the Markey motion to recommit with instructions. (consideration: CR H606-607; text: CR H606)

  10. The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions. Failed by recorded vote: 173 - 256 (Roll no. 44).

    House roll call 44 · Individual votes
  11. DEBATE - The House proceeded with ten minutes of debate on the motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion require the bill to be reported back to the House forthwith with an amendment consisting of the provisions of amendment numbered 2 printed in part B of House Report 107-361. Amendment numbered 2 strikes section 4 of the bill and inserts a new section 4 providing protection for competitive investments by preserving the existing rules for telecommunications services that govern competitive local exchange carriers and preserves State authority and consumer safeguards from the broad preemption of such authority granted under H.R. 1542.

  12. Mr. Markey moved to recommit with instructions to Energy and Commerce. (consideration: CR H602-606)

  13. The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

  14. The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 1542.

  15. The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.

  16. Considered as unfinished business.

  17. ORDER OF PROCEDURE - Mr. Tauzin asked unanimous consent that, during further consideration of H.R. 1542 in the Committee of the Whole and pursuant to H. Res. 350,Mr. Buyer be permitted to offer amendment numb ered 3 printed in part B of House Report 107-361, as a free standing amendment to the bill. Objection was heard.

  18. Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 1542 as unfinished business.

  19. DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 350, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 40 minutes of debate on the Upton amendment.

  20. DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour and twenty minutes of debate on H.R. 1542.

  21. The Speaker designated the Honorable Henry Bonilla to act as Chairman of the Committee.

  22. House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 350 and Rule XXIII.

  23. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1542 with 1 hour and 20 minutes of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Waives all points of order against consideration of the bill and provides that the amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in part A of the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying the resolution shall be considered as adopted in the House and in the Committee of the Whole. The bill, as amended, shall be considered as the original bill for the purpose of further amendment and shall be considered as read. No further amendment shall be in order except those printed in part B of the report of the Committee on Rules. The amendments may be offered only in the order printed in the report, may be offered only by a Member designated in the report, shall be considered as read, shall be deb...

  24. Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 350. (consideration: CR H568-609)

  25. Rule H. Res. 350 passed House.

  26. Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 350 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1542 with 1 hour and 20 minutes of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Waives all points of order against consideration of the bill and provides that the amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in part A of the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying the resolution shall be considered as adopted in the House and in the Committee of the Whole. The bill, as amended, shall be considered as the original bill for the purpose of further amendment and shall be considered as read. No further amendment shall be in order except those printed in part B of the report of the Committee on Rules. The amendments may be offered only in the order printed in the report, may be offered only by a Member designated in the report, shall be considered as read, shall be deb...

  27. Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 54.

  28. Reported adversely (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 107-83, Part II.

  29. Reported adversely (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 107-83, Part II.

  30. See also H.R. 1542.

  31. Ordered to be Reported Unfavorably (Amended) by Voice Vote.

  32. Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  33. Committee Hearings Held.

  34. Referred sequentially to the House Committee on the Judiciary for a period ending not later than June 18, 2001 for consideration of such provisions of the bill and amendment recommended by the Committee on Energy and Commerce as propose to narrow the purview of the Attorney General under section 271 of the Communications Act of 1934.

  35. Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 107-83, Part I.

  36. Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 107-83, Part I.

  37. Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 32 - 23.

  38. Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  39. Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended).

  40. Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  41. Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet.

  42. Committee Hearings Held.

  43. Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

  44. Introduced in House

  45. Introduced in House

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.1542 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources
Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.1542 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources
Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.1542 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources
Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.1542 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources