UPTON TO HEAD TELECOM SUBCOMMITTEE; PRIVACY GOES TO STEARNS
House Telecom Subcommittee will be headed by Rep. Upton (R- Mich.), but Commerce Committee Chmn. Tauzin (R-La.) carved out Trade & Consumer Protection Subcommittee for Rep. Stearns (R- Fla.). Trade Subcommittee will have jurisdiction over privacy, trade and other commercial practices within purview of FTC, while Telecom panel will keep all telecom and other media issues. Rep. Greenwood (R-Pa.) will head Oversight & Investigations Subcommittee. “There’s still some grey area that has be resolved” in terms of jurisdiction, said Committee spokesman Ken Johnson, but now “we have a road map we can follow.”
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Meanwhile, 7 new members were added to Senate Commerce Committee, and Democrats filled out their membership on other committees. Panel will be bigger than last year -- 22 members vs. 20 -- and GOP had extra spot opened with departure of Sen. Snowe (R-Me.), who was lead backer of e-rate program to wire schools and libraries to Internet. Four new Republicans are: (1) Sen. Allen (R-Va.), who was heavily backed by high-tech companies. He continues rising influence of Va. on Internet issues; (2) Sen. Ensign (R-Nev.), who takes panel seat as well as Senate seat of retired Sen. Richard Bryan (D-Nev.). (3) Sen. Smith (R-Ore.). (4) Sen. Fitzgerald (R-Ill.)
Three new Democrats include 2 with some known agenda. Sen. Boxer (D-Cal.) is well known as supporter of high-tech issues, while Sen. Edwards (D-N.C.) supports ranking Democrat Hollings (D- S.C.) in advocating some of toughest proposed privacy legislation. Sen. Carnahan (D-Mo.), like Ensign, fills Commerce seat that had been held by member she replaces, former Sen. John Ashcroft (R- Mo.).
Most of newcomers have scant records on Internet and telecom industries’ most important issues. Senate Commerce panel, where almost 1/3 of members are new, “is a committee that really has to learn” issues quickly, said spokesman for USTA. Meanwhile, new head of House Telecom Subcommittee has little history on issues facing him. Only issues he cited in release Thurs. were technology in classroom and telemedicine. He’s most known among telecom and Internet lobbyists for pushing bill (HR-1291) last year that would have prevented FCC from taxing Internet -- measure many derided as solution to nonexistent problem, since Commission has said repeatedly it has no intention of proposing such tax. Of course, “reality is that telecom is going to be driven by the chairman [Tauzin],” said Precursor Group analyst Scott Cleland. “It’s his passion.”
In other Democratic announcements, Sen. Cantwell (Wash.) and Durbin (Ill.) were added to Judiciary Committee. Extra spot was opened on 9-member Democratic side when Sen. Torricelli (D-N.J.) departed for Finance Committee. Cantwell, who reportedly had sought seat on Commerce, is expected to be intensely interested in Internet issues, and Judiciary will handle intellectual property matters such as Webcasting. Cantwell is former executive for Webcasting company RealNetworks.
Still pending are committee assignments from Senate Republicans and House Democrats, who face similar problem: having done worse than they expected in Nov. elections, they've overcommitted seats they have. On House Commerce Committee, Democrats have just 2 seats available, and front-runners are Reps. Harman (D-Cal.), who has written promise from Democratic Leader Gephardt (Mo.) that she gets seat on Commerce, and John (D-La.), who is backed by Commerce ranking Democrat Dingell (Mich.). However, others pushing for slots include Rep. Davis (D-Fla.) and Doyle (D-Pa.). Gephardt isn’t expected to announce his decisions until near Jan. 20 Inauguration Day, using remaining time to cut deals with members who don’t get seats and pressure Republicans for more spots.
Democrats also have to name ranking members of reorganized Commerce subcommittees. New Trade Subcommittee could be perfect fit for Internet Caucus co-chmn. Boucher (D-Va.), leading Commerce Democrat who isn’t ranking member on any subcommittee. Boucher didn’t return call for comment by our deadline. Also still to be decided are GOP and Democratic rank-and-file members of new subcommittees.