TELECOM HEARINGS POSSIBLE IF CONGRESS HOLDS LAME DUCK SESSION
Homeland security and appropriations are likely to be most pressing concerns for Congress once it returns this week, but telecom and Internet issues probably will be raised and appropriations seemed likely vehicle for some measures. No telecom-related bills are on agenda for Senate, spokeswoman for Senate Majority Leader Daschle (D-S.D.) said. Senate will consider nomination of Jonathan Adelstein, Daschle aide on telecom issues, for open Democratic seat on FCC, although vote hasn’t been scheduled. First priority for Senate will be proposal to create Homeland Security Dept., spokeswoman said. Several Hill sources said it was likely that congressional session would extend past Oct.4 scheduled recess, even including “lame duck” session where lawmakers defeated in Nov. could return. “That means that September will be more like a regular month and won’t have the focus on appropriations that it usually does,” Senate staffer told us. “They'll likely save that for November or December.”
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Much work needs to be done on telecom-related appropriations, particularly in House. Two bills of interest to telecom community, Commerce-State-Justice bill and VA-HUD and Independent Agencies bill -- latter includes FCC -- have yet to be marked up in House Appropriations Committee. Staffer for Senate Commerce Committee member expected several attempts to push legislation via riders on appropriations bills. It was unclear which telecom issues could be addressed through appropriations bills. Staffer for House Commerce Committee member said there was talk of passing legislation to address NextWave re-auction through appropriations bill. Measure (HR-4738) by House Commerce Committee Commerce Subcommittee Chmn. Stearns (R-Fla.) would allow companies that bid on re-auction of NextWave spectrum licenses to be released from bids. Oral argument on issue is to be heard by U.S. Supreme Court next month. Staffers in both House and Senate said it was important for companies that had bids pending, such as Verizon’s $8 billion bid, to be able to reinvest that money in struggling telecom markets. Staffer for Sen. Brownback (R-Kan.), who co-sponsored similar bill by Sen. Kerry (D-Mass.), said: “The time has come to wipe away that auction.” Staffer said legislation was reaction to poor status of current telecom marketplace. Industry source said House was likely to address bill before Senate brought up issue.
DTV transition will be hot topic for House Commerce Committee, aide to panel member told us. Committee Chmn. Tauzin and ranking Democrat Dingell (Mich.) are expected to introduce comprehensive DTV bill in Sept., he said. There’s also talk of DTV hearing before House Commerce Committee, staffer said. House source said Commerce Committee also could hold hearing on issues related to rural telecom services, focusing on universal service and establishment of rural office within FCC. Hearing probably would be tied to HR-1171 by Rep. Deal (R-Ga.) that would remove FCC caps on universal service for high-cost areas and to bill proposed by Rep. Terry (R-Neb.) that would establish board in FCC to review effect of Commission’s rulemakings on rural entities, source said. Sen. Harkin (D-Ia.) is likely to introduce bill to establish rural presence in FCC. House field hearing in Ill. will focus on marketing of violence to children, staffer for House Commerce Committee member said. Although hearing would be before Telecom & Internet Subcommittee, which is chaired by Rep. Upton (R-Mich.), it would be held in Southwest Ill. district of Rep. Shimkus (R-Ill.).
Spokesman for Senate Commerce Committee said Chmn. Hollings (D-S.C.) would like to see his broadband bill (S- 2448) enacted before end of 107th Congress (CD May 3 p1). Bill, which is markedly different from Tauzin-Dingell (HR- 1542) passed by House, is one of 2 that spokesman classified as priority for Hollings (other being rail passenger legislation that already has passed committee). Hollings bill would devote funding to aid rural broadband deployment, as opposed to Tauzin-Dingell approach of deregulating Bells. Commerce Committee has held hearing on bill, but hasn’t marked it up. Senate staffer said Communications Subcommittee Chmn. Burns (R-Mont.) would continue to push for passage of antispam legislation (S-630).