Another obstacle has emerged for the beleaguered spectrum trust f...

and universal service fund (USF) legislation (HR-5419). Sources said Byrd’s hold is due to the same concerns that appropriators always had over the bill: The usurping of Appropriations Committee jurisdiction. The bill, which seeks to reimburse Defense Dept. and other govt. users for portions of the 3G spectrum they now occupy, would essentially appropriate money from spectrum auctions in advance. House appropriators had similar concerns over HR-1320, the original spectrum trust fund bill, that were eventually resolved before the House passed the bill in 2003. That bill is now part of HR-5419, a catch-all bill passed by the House 2 weeks ago, and includes state funding for E- 911 deployment and an exemption from Anti-Deficiency Act requirements on USF. The Senate Commerce Committee has passed spectrum trust fund legislation, but it never moved to the Senate floor. During deliberations on the bill, Senate Appropriations Chmn. Stevens (R-Alaska) said he had concerns that the bill would usurp appropriators authority. But sources said Byrd’s hold wasn’t the main obstacle for HR-5419. Senate Commerce Committee Chmn. McCain (R-Ariz.) is also holding up the legislation because House leadership won’t take up his measure to establish a national boxing commission. One industry source said differences with Byrd, which were based on substance, are likely to be easier to resolve than the differences between McCain and House leadership, which sources said appear to be political.