SB1116, the MPAA-proposed "anticircumvention bill" is making its way through the legislature with none of the parts we oppose removed.

The latest is that the Committee asked EFF-Austin, ACLU and other opponents to negotiate the bill with MPAA, and try to come up with a suitable substitute bill. They said that they would not move the bill until this negotiation had occurred. The negotiation was scheduled for tomorrow, however the committee voted the bill onto the floor today.

Adina composed most of this message, which I just sent to the Austin American-Statesman:

This is Jon Lebkowsky, President of EFF-Austin, an Austin nonprofit that is involved in technology and policy. We have been attempting to stop a bill that the Motion Picture Association of America has been bringing to various states. The bill, masquerading as a theft of service bill, gives cable providers broad control over what end-users do in their homes and businesses. A Senate hearing on Tuesday night showed broad opposition, from consumer groups, civil liberties groups, as well as telephone companies and consumer electronics manufacturers. Only two senators were there at midnight to hear the testimony on this controversial bill. Nevertheless, the bill was voted out of the senate committee in a surprise floor vote today, For more information, contact Adina Levin...

If you want to contact committee members in the house and Senate, here's the info:

Senate Criminal Justice Committee

Bill Sponsor: Tommy Williams

Staffer: Dade Phelan

Tel: (512) 463-0104

Fax: (512) 463-6373 fax

Committee Chair: John Whitmire

Staffer: Blanca Laborde

Tel: (512) 463-0345

Fax: (512) 475-2015

Member: John Carona

Staffer: Wendy Wilson

Tel: (512) 463-0116

Fax: (512) 463-3135

Member: Rodney Ellis

Staffer: Wesley Duncan

Tel: (512) 463-0113

Fax: (512) 463-0006

Member: Juan Hinojosa

Staffer: Rachel Hernandez

Tel: (512) 463-0120

Fax: (512) 463-0229

Member: Steve Ogden

Staffer: Matt Phillips

Tel: (512) 463-0105

Fax: (512) 463-5713

Member: Bill Ratliff

Staffer: Bill Paxton

Tel: (512) 463-0101

Fax: (512) 475-3751

House Regulated Industries

Sponsor:Ron Wilson

(512) 463-0744

(512) 463-5896 Fax

Chair: Phil King

Staffer: Trey Trainor

Tel: Committee: 463-1821, EXT E2.108

Fax: (512) 463-1957 Fax

Vice Chair: Bob Hunter

Tel: (512) 463-0718

Fax: (512) 463-6244 Fax

Presented by: Sylvester Turner

Staffer: Alicia

Tel. (512) 463-0554

Fax: (512) 463-8380

Steve Wolens

Staffer: Mark Burns

Tel. (512) 463-0746

Fax: (512) 463-5826

Todd Baxter

Staffer: Brad Shields

Tel. (512) 463-0631

Fax. (512) 236-1065 Fax

Joe Crabb

Tel. (512) 463-0520

Fax. (512) 463-5896 Fax

Ryan Guillen

Tel. (512) 463-0416

Fax. (512) 463-5896

Thank you for your continued support!

Jon Lebkowsky

President, EFF-Austin

jonl@effaustin.org

http://www.effaustin.org