Internet Competition Hearings Planned

July 24, 2001

Senator Leahy expects to convene Senate Judiciary Committee hearings, beginning in September, on competition and innovation involving advanced computer and Internet technologies, to ensure the broadest possible consumer choices. The hearings will be forward-looking in terms of factual issues and will consider network effects, licensing issues, exclusive contracting, convergence, access to digital content and other topics. The hearings will also examine evolving legal precedents and principles.

At this point Senator Leahy has several issues for the hearings, which include:

* DESKTOP ISSUES: Promoting competition, innovation and access with new technologies such as instant messaging, digital photography, voice recognition, audio and video programming and editing, Web services, calendar management, navigation devices, data storage, Internet auctions, financial services, security, consumer privacy, and integration of new features;

* WEB AND INTERNET ISSUES: Promoting competition and innovation concerning portals to the Internet, high-speed Internet access, server markets, database and online technology in operating systems, networking effects, and access to services and consumers.