Telecom Gets Close Look in First 3 Months of 110th Congress
Congress’s promised oversight of telecom issues has resulted in many hearings but little legislation the first 3 months of the 110th Congress. For telcos, cable and related telecom companies, that’s a good thing, lobbyists and industry sources told us. Democrats are taking their time studying issues before framing an agenda, and oversight hearings have helped tighten operations at the FCC and NTIA, sources said.
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“Oversight is fine; if it does focus the FCC, that’s good,” said attorney Dick Wiley. He praised House Commerce Committee Chmn. Dingell (D-Mich.) and Subcommittee Chmn. Markey (D-Mass.) for the hearings they have held on oversight of the FCC, NTIA and the coupon converter box program. He said most efforts seem to be bipartisan; arguments over money for the converter box program are a major exception.
“There’s no doubt that oversight has been successful in focusing the FCC’s attention on the backlog of proceedings,” said Stifel Nicholas analyst Blair Levin. Dingell and Markey highlighted various issues, Levin said, and it was their call for an oversight hearing that prompted the FCC to get prepared and move items that might not necessarily have been moved quickly otherwise.
As lawmakers return to their districts for the Passover and Easter holidays, the 2009 DTV deadline may be the one communications issue likely to make the agenda for discussions with constituents. With many members worried that Congress hasn’t provided enough money to educate consumers about the transition, some lawmakers are starting their own campaigns to do that. Rep. Boucher (D-Va.) announced a new DTV caucus last week dedicated to the effort.
Meanwhile, the House Telecom Subcommittee has held several hearings to ensure that NTIA seriously its role as administrator of the $1.5 billion coupon converter box program. “It’s important the people know what they have to do,” an industry source said. Oversight hearings don’t have to be contentious, she said, adding that Democrats, out of power 12 years, need time to get a broad look at the issues. The FCC “needs direction,” she said: “It’s an important role that Congress needs to play.”
Legislation that has been moving includes a pretexting bill, a “truth in caller ID” measure and appropriations for interoperability. The only measure to pass a chamber is an antispoofing bill HR-740, which the House approved last week. It’s expected to be paired with a Senate bill (S-704) introduced by Sens. Nelson (D-Fla.) and Snowe (R-Me.), but that measure hasn’t cleared the Committee. A separate House measure, HR-251, also is expected to pass the House, a committee aide said.
Meanwhile, Congress has held several hearings on the proposed XM-Sirius merger, and the Senate Commerce Committee is expected to hold one the next few weeks, Committee sources said. The Committee also held a hearing on broadband and Universal Service Fund issues and sports programming issues, prompted by a deal that DirecTV struck with Major League Baseball giving the company a minority stake in MLB’s Baseball Channel and the Extra Innings package on terms other carriers say they can’t match.
What’s different about the 110th Congress is the broad range of issues, said TIA lobbyist Danielle Jafari, adding that oversight “doesn’t have to be contentious.” Telecom has testified before a broad range of committees including not just the House and Senate Commerce and Judiciary Committees, but also Homeland Security, Govt. Reform and Appropriations, she said. “Congress is really looking at higher level issues and getting the lay of the land. It’s always a good thing.”