Change in Senate leadership has bolstered likelihood of moving broadband deployment tax credit bill (S-88) by Sen. Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), Senate staffer said. Rockefeller’s office told us earlier this year (CD March 12 p7) that he would seek appropriate legislative vehicle in Finance Committee to move S-88. Bill has 54 co-sponsors including Sen. Majority Leader Daschle (D- S.D.), Finance Committee Chmn. Baucus (D-Mont.), Taxation Subcommittee Chmn. Conrad (D-S.D.). Companion bill in House by Reps. Matsui (D-Cal.) and English (R-Pa.) has more than 150 co- sponsors.
After furious but failed last-min. race to win enactment last session, proponents of bill to provide tax breaks for broadband provision in underserved areas are back and optimistic for passage this year. Sen. Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) late Mon. joined 32 colleagues in introducing new version (S-88). Bill (S-4728) by then Sen. Daniel Moynihan (D-N.Y.) was co-sponsored by more than half the Senate last year and initially was folded into New Markets tax package, but didn’t make cut in final New Markets package negotiated by GOP leadership and then President Clinton.