The Fritz Hollings proposal to require copy protection technology to be placed in all PCs looks to be dead now that John McCain will be chairman of the US Senate Commerce Committee:

His replacement is likely to be John McCain of Arizona, currently the top Republican on the committee, who has not adopted such a pro-Hollywood stance. During a hearing in March, McCain said he was skeptical of proposals such as Hollings' that "select technological winners and losers and mandate government intervention in the marketplace."

Privacy protection looks set to be strengthened:

In this case, a change in leadership may not make a difference. Paul Sarbanes (D-Md.), the current chairman of the banking committee, may be replaced by Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), who is also a very strong advocate for privacy protections.

"Shelby is one of the most ardent pro-privacy senators of either party," said Evan Hendricks, editor and publisher of Privacy Times. "Privacy is in much better shape there [in the banking committee] than anywhere else."

Broadband deregulation might embolden local phone carriers to make bigger investments in the local loop:

Online privacy bill, broadband deregulation, other legislation could pass more easily with power shift, watchers say.

It will be an especially good thing of the Fritz Hollings proposal dies in committee.