Industry Wavers on Inouye Broadband Bill
Senate Commerce Committee Chmn. Inouye’s broadband data bill could gain support, though Republicans didn’t co-sponsor the measure (S-1492) and the telecom industry was largely mum when it was introduced Thurs., industry and Hill sources said. The bill sets a marker for potential conference with one in the works by the House Commerce Committee. But it’s only a starting point -- a dearth of GOP co-sponsors and lukewarm Bell company endorsements indicate discomfort, according to a source close to the committee.
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Notably, Vice-Chmn. Stevens (R-Alaska) declined to sign onto the bill. The Stevens/Inouye relationship’s length often leads each to co-sponsor the other’s bills. Stevens signed onto a 2nd Inouye bill (S-1493) promoting broadband research; his staff declined to explain why he didn’t co- sponsor the broadband data bill. Both senators were quoted in a release endorsing the research bill, which asks $250 million over 5 years for a National Science Foundation program. The bill also would speed an NTIA pilot program on spectrum sharing.
USTelecom shares Inouye’s goal to “ensure that all consumers have access to broadband,” and the group promised to work with Inouye to identify unserved areas, a spokeswoman said. OPASTCO said it supports the bill in a Fri. statement.
“It is important that policy makers and communications providers have the information they need to make proper decisions on broadband deployment issues,” Pres. John Rose said in a letter to Inouye.
OPASTCO is fervent about spreading broadband in rural areas, and officials have said they support “mapping” concepts the Inouye bill suggests to identify unserved areas. It’s called for in several bills, most targeting users by 9-digit zip code. Mapping figured prominently in Sen. Durbin’s (D-Ill.) bipartisan broadband bill (S-1190), widely circulated in industry, drawing significant support, the source said. But the Inouye bill’s new definitions of broadband could be a problem, some Hill sources said. For example, it would create a high-speed tier, which might exclude wireless.
The Inouye bill is a “critical first step toward a comprehensive national broadband policy that benefits consumers,” said Free Press Policy Dir. Ben Scott. The bill would provide tools to collect “granular” data on broadband availability, adoption, cost and speed at a local level across the country, he said, urging Congress to act quickly on the measure.