Net neutrality would trade a supporter for an opponent if former HP CEO Carly Fiorina takes the seat of Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., in this November’s election. Political analysts consider Boxer’s seat to be at risk, and the telecom industry is watching the race closely (CD Aug 20 p5). “Carly opposes net neutrality and thinks government intervention and more regulation will not be helpful where the Internet is concerned,” a Fiorina campaign spokeswoman told us this week. In a speech last week to the Technology Policy Institute, Fiorina said it would be “bad public policy” for the FCC to reclassify broadband transport under Title II of the Communications Act. Meanwhile, a Boxer spokeswoman told us the Senate Commerce Committee member “strongly supports net neutrality and she believes the FCC has a role to play in ensuring an open Internet.” Boxer hasn’t commented specifically on reclassification. Boxer doesn’t plan to comment on that or any other proposal related to the FCC’s broadband authority until they are finalized for FCC rulemaking, a Senate staffer told us. In the 109th and 110th Congresses, Boxer was an original cosponsor of bills by Sens. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., and Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, that would have given the FCC enforcement authority over net neutrality principles.
The Commerce Department plans a meeting Wednesday on public safety broadband, an NTIA spokeswoman confirmed. The event, which isn’t a public forum, is “part of an ongoing outreach effort by the Administration to discuss with stakeholders what’s needed in order to develop a nationwide, interoperable wireless broadband network for public safety,” she said. “This meeting in particular will be to learn more about some of the technical requirements necessary for such a network as well as some of the applications today that are being utilized to serve public safety.” The meeting isn’t about the D-block, a source said. Attendees may include the White House Chief Technology Officer, the Commerce and Justice Departments, and senior executives from network operators and broadband vendors, said wireless industry analyst Andrew Seybold in a blog post dated Aug. 23. It doesn’t appear that any public safety officials have been invited, he said.
The U.S. must preserve network neutrality, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., said at a broadband summit Tuesday at the University of Minnesota. Genachowski said he still feels “very strongly” about enforcing open Internet principles. He also urged Congress to speedily fund a nationwide, interoperable wireless broadband network for public safety.
Cellphone tax law, public safety, cybersecurity and universal service are among issues expected to get Congressional attention when members return from recess next month, Hill and industry officials said. But with elections in early November, Congress is quickly running out of time to finish pending legislation on those and other matters. “On telecom, the final few weeks will mostly be about laying the groundwork for a busy 2010-11 in areas like spectrum, privacy and broadband regulation,” said Concept Capital analyst Paul Gallant.
Congress shouldn’t require mobile devices to include FM-radio chips, six manufacturers and wireless service providers said in a letter Monday to House and Senate Judiciary Committee leaders of both parties. CTIA, CEA, TechAmerica, the Telecommunications Industry Association, Rural Cellular Association and Information Technology Industry Council questioned the NAB’s and MusicFirst’s right to make the proposal in the groups’ performance royalty talks. The CEA and CTIA had objected to any legislation sought by radio broadcasters and music labels requiring chips in cellphones (CD Aug 16 p5).
Sorenson was alone seeking one compensation rate for all video relay service providers under the interstate Telecom Relay Service fund, in comments at the FCC last week. Sorenson is the biggest VRS provider and is paid the least under the current system. Responding to a notice of inquiry about taking a “fresh look” at the VRS program and reducing fraud, Sorenson’s rivals and consumer groups representing the deaf urged the FCC to maintain the current tiered approach, with some minor changes.
In what could be a messy November election for Democrats, telecom industry lobbyists are closely watching the re-elections of several members active on their issues. Those races include House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Rick Boucher, D-Va., and subcommittee members Zack Space, D-Ohio, and Lee Terry, R-Neb. They also include Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., and Senate Commerce Committee member Barbara Boxer, D-Calif. Boucher has a large financial advantage over his Republican opponent and political analysts and others give him the edge.
Former Alaska Republican Sen. Ted Stevens died in a plane crash on the way to a fishing lodge in Alaska Monday night, state officials announced Tuesday. He was 86. Bill Phillips, previously an outside consultant to NCTA, was among the eight others also on the flight. Officials said there were four survivors, but named only ex-NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe and his son. The plane and fishing lodge were owned by Alaskan telecom carrier GCI. The carrier didn’t immediately say what was the purpose of the outing.
The Senate passed amended Internet accessibility legislation Thursday night by unanimous consent. The amendment by sponsor Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., revised the bill to bring it more in line with the version passed last month by the House (CD July 27 p7) . Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., who has blocked many bills this Congress, placed a temporary hold on the measure, but lifted it after his staff vetted the legislation. The bill now moves to the House. The Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technologies supports S-3304 and hopes the House will pass it next week when members return for a brief session, said Jenifer Simpson, a senior director of the American Association of People with Disabilities. “Passage of this bill is a landmark achievement in the fight for equal access to technology for all Americans,” said Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., sponsor of the House companion bill. “Now that both the House and Senate have acted, I look forward to proceeding and getting legislation to President Obama for his signature.” Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., said, “This bill will help Americans with disabilities stay interconnected in our fast, and ever-evolving technological landscape.” The cable industry appreciated “the willingness of these leaders to work with industry and all interested parties in molding legislation that identifies achievable goals and addresses these vital issues in a constructive fashion,” said NCTA President Kyle McSlarrow.
Commerce Committee leaders on Capitol Hill seem at loggerheads over the right approach to building a public safety network. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., on Thursday night introduced a bill to give the D-block to public safety, as expected (CD Aug 6 p9). The measure clashes with legislation being drafted by House Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., who wants to codify the National Broadband Plan’s recommendation to commercially auction the 700 MHz spectrum. Public safety has vocally criticized the FCC and Waxman’s approach.