WASHINGTON-The Senate Commerce Committee on Thursday reauthorized the Federal Trade Commission but did not deal with the controversial digital rights management issue. Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) offered but then withdrew an amendment that would have overturned a recent court ruling requiring Verizon Communications Inc. to turn over to the Recording Industry Association of America the names, addresses and phone numbers of Verizon Internet subscribers that the RIAA believes are infringing on their copyrights by sharing music over the Internet.
Wireless content providers have said that content will not be available until the thorny DRM issue is resolved.
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), chairman, agreed to hold a hearing on DRM.
