As reported here yesterday, Congressman Michael G. Oxley (R, OH) wrote a letter to the General Accounting Office earlier this month asking a number of questions about electronic commerce and information technology as practiced by the real estate industry. The questions about which he requested GAO comment and review focused on websites that use Multiple Listing Service (MLS) data.

Yesterday, Bloomberg news reported that Congressman Oxley �is challenging efforts by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and Cendant Corporation to restrict online companies from publishing listings from MLS.� Bloomberg cited the letter to GAO, a letter that did not, however, mention Cendant Corporation which owns Coldwell Banker, and Century 21 Real Estate. An over-reaching by Bloomberg, or is something else going on?

Possibly because of the impending holiday, we were unable to contact anyone in Rep. Oxley�s office to obtain more information.