ADELSTEIN WELL RECEIVED AT NOMINATION HEARING
Senate Commerce Committee appeared to support Jonathan Adelstein for open FCC Democratic seat after cordial hearing Tues. Committee hasn’t set date for vote, spokesman said. Adelstein, telecom aide to Senate Majority Leader Daschle (D- S.D.), emphasized rural issues during hearing, particularly deployment of broadband, maintenance of universal service fund and improved management of spectrum. “We can’t deploy broadband fast enough,” Adelstein said. Commerce Committee Ranking Republican McCain (Ariz.), whose possible hold had threatened to delay confirmation, called Adelstein “a fine young man.” McCain has threatened holds on all nominations until candidate for Federal Election Commission is approved.
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McCain railed against Telecom Act, Sen. Dorgan (D-N.D.) questioned FCC’s resolve to expand universal service, Sen. Burns (R-Mont.) advocated wholesale changes in spectrum management and Sen. Brownback (R-Kan.) asked Adelstein to examine violent TV programming during “family hour.” Adelstein gave many general answers to specific questions, saying it was inappropriate to directly address topics he might face as FCC commissioner. He would take seat of former FCC Comr. Gloria Tristani that expires June 30, 2003.
Adelstein agreed with McCain that telecom industry was in state of crisis. He emphasized importance of improving investor confidence in telecom sector, saying otherwise it would be difficult for industry to acquire capital needed for its growth. Telecom sector is vital to nation’s economy, he said. If U.S. doesn’t maintain its edge in telecom, it is likely to lose worldwide economic edge, Adelstein said. McCain said it probably would be up to FCC to ensure deployment of broadband, since congressional houses were split on legislative solution. Adelstein told Brownback that Telecom Act contained “a number of tools” to foster ubiquitous broadband deployment, including “adequate” universal service and spectrum management, which he said could be used to solve last-mile problem in rural areas.
Dorgan urged Adelstein to be “tiger” on rural issues. Burns asked Adelstein whether he agreed that spectrum management should be consolidated into one federal agency. Adelstein wouldn’t comment on potential reallocation of FCC jurisdiction, saying it would require legislation. He did agree with Burns that E911 needed to be deployed as quickly as possible. He told Brownback he was concerned about violence on TV. Brownback discussed brain-mapping studies performed on children who watched violent TV and Adelstein said he would consider such studies while at FCC.
Adelstein said FCC could place greater focus on universal service. “I'm not convinced this or any FCC has placed the same level of priority on [universal service] that this committee or Congress has,” he said. He agreed with Dorgan that universal service fee also should be collected from intrastate telecom services as well as interstate. Despite fact that courts have ruled universal service funding should be collected only on interstate communications, Adelstein said he believed Telecom Act gave FCC broader base for universal service, citing language that says collection should be “equitable and nondiscriminatory.” Dorgan criticized FCC for not appealing ruling, saying it showed agency wasn’t aggressive on universal services and rural issues in general.