Broadband bill close to law

(BUSINESS WIRE) — A bill to ease regulation of broadband services for the regional Bell operating companies is close to becoming law, and it’s certain to wreak havoc through the telecom industry, according to Dataquest Inc., a unit of Gartner, Inc. The bill, H.R. 1542, calls for deregulating competitive data services, including Internet access, and codifying the deregulation of the Internet. It also prevents the Bell Operating companies from offering voice-over-the Internet-type services until they receive approval from the FCC to offer in-region long distance services.