Opponents and supporters of reclassification filed long, often strongly worded filings in response to what FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski calls his “Third Way” broadband-reclassification proposal. The comments land at a sharply divided agency.

The Senate Commerce Committee unanimously approved amended Internet accessibility legislation by Sens. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., and John Kerry, D-Mass., in a voice vote Thursday morning. The bill (S-3304) aims to increase the number of hearing aid-compatible phones, improve access to 911 emergency services, and expand and update closed captioning and video description requirements. Democrats and Republicans supported the bill, despite lingering concerns by consumer electronics companies (CD July 15 p12) .

CEA still has concerns about Internet accessibility legislation that Democrats are pushing to finish by July 26, the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), it said. The Senate Commerce Committee plans Thursday to mark up a revised version of S-3304 by Sens. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., and John Kerry, D-Mass. An amendment by Pryor that circulated among lobbyists Wednesday didn’t relieve CEA’s concerns that the bill is too broad and imposes too many technical requirements, said Jason Oxman, a senior vice president of the association. CEA has similar concerns about the House version, by Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass. The association supports ensuring that its products are accessible but opposes mandates that dictate functionality, because it believes Congress should “leave innovation to the innovators,” Oxman said. CEA has been working with House and Senate members to improve the legislation and plans to continue “up to the point where it gets to the floor,” if necessary, he said. Other industry groups involved in the legislative discussions, including USTelecom, NCTA and CTIA, didn’t comment. USTelecom raised concerns about some technical aspects of the bill at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing in May, but changes since seem to have resolved the association’s concerns, a telecom industry official said. The Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology, which has supported the legislation, didn’t respond to a request for comment.

CTIA, USTelecom, AT&T, Verizon, Qwest and Sprint Nextel said the FCC should drop, at least for now, plans for a voluntary cybersecurity certification program that the commission proposed. In an April 21 notice of inquiry, the FCC asked how such a program would work and whether it would improve security.

The National Broadband Plan’s suggestions for transforming funding support for voice and broadband generated a sharp divide between small, rural carriers and larger carriers that serve both urban and rural districts. The FCC received nearly 100 comments Monday, the deadline for responding to a notice of inquiry and notice of proposed rulemaking on changing legacy support systems, bringing broadband to unserved areas before the Connect America Fund (CAF) is created and using an economic model to target support. The wireless industry also weighed in, with carriers making the case that reforms have to be competitively neutral, not giving wireline any advantages.

July 12 National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors webinar on forecasting municipal wireless system revenue, 2 p.m. -- info@natoa.org

Industry endorsed digital goods tax legislation introduced late Wednesday by House Communications Chairman Rick Boucher, D-Va. The bill (HR-5649) would set up “a uniform national framework for the taxation of digital goods and services,” Boucher said on the House floor late Wednesday. The bipartisan bill, co-sponsored by Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, would cover digital music, movies and games, as well as the electronic delivery of professional, educational and health care services.

Attendees said a closed-door Hill meeting Friday was a productive starting point as Congress pursues an update to the Telecom Act. It was more a listening session than a negotiation over any specific proposal, they told us afterward. But some cited a preference in the room for narrowly targeted network neutrality legislation. The two-hour session was moderated by Bruce Wolpe, senior adviser on the House Commerce Committee, and included 31 participants representing ISPs, Internet edge companies, think tanks, labor and public interest groups. More meetings are planned next month, with the next set for July 2.

Tech and Internet companies breathed a sigh of relief after learning that financial industry revamp legislation agreed upon Friday by the House and Senate did away with provisions they didn’t like (CD May 24 p2). Several groups said they were especially glad the FTC’s authority would not be expanded. The bill now goes back to the House and Senate for final floor votes.

USTelecom President Walter McCormick sharply criticized the FCC Tuesday for proposing net neutrality rules that could potentially keep carriers from passing the cost of broadband to anyone but subscribers. McCormick, who keynoted at the NextGenWeb conference in Washington, also warned that driving down prices won’t be enough on its own to lead to universal adoption, and expressed deep concern about the broadband reclassification inquiry the commission launched last week.