It looks like some political pressure will still be possible. Definitely good news, especially since most of the methods for receiving "banned groups" listed in the FAQ are through US sites. -Allen Reuters New Media _ Friday December 29 5:51 AM EST _ Dole, Gingrich Unhappy with Telecom Bill WASHINGTON (Reuter) - Top House and Senate Republican leaders expressed unhappiness Thursday with a proposed rewrite of the nation's communications laws amid signs the Republicans may seek changes in legislation circulating on Capitol Hill. ``There are a number of problems in the bill that could have been resolved in a different way,'' Senate Majority Leader Robert Dole told a news conference. The Kansas Republican, appearing with House Speaker Newt Gingrich, said there are ``three, or four, or five provisions'' GOP leaders ought to focus on, including what he described as a ``giveway'' of a key part of the airwaves to broadcasters. The plan worked out by congressional negotiators proposes that in the future, when the government doles out licenses for high-definition digital TV, the Federal Communications Commission ``should'' limit eligibility to existing broadcasters. Critics have charged this would amount to a multibillion dollar giveaway of the airwaves to the broadcast industry and that the government could instead raise as much as $70 billion through a competitive auction of the digital spectrum. Last week it appeared the White House and congressional leaders had reached agreement on legislation to overhaul the 61-year-old communications laws, following weeks of work by House and Senate negotiators. The plan would tear down decades-old laws and permit telephone, cable and broadcast companies to invade each other's turf. But after Vice President Al Gore and some congressional leaders said they had achieved an accord, other Republicans began to balk at the proposal, saying no deal had been struck. The protests scuttled any chance the telecommunications bill would be completed this year. Among other things, Republicans expressed dissatisfaction with provisions to ease restrictions on the number of TV stations broadcasters could own, saying the plan did not go far enough. They also cited issues such as regulation of the Internet and a decision to drop language permitting greater foreign investment in telecommunications.