Upton Seeks More Hill Oversight of FCC
The Republican who may lead the House Commerce Committee next year said FCC regulations “are only further smothering the economy.” In a Washington Times op-ed piece Tuesday, Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., urged congressional oversight of the FCC and other federal agencies next year. Upton has expressed interest in becoming the next Commerce Committee chairman, and some telecom industry officials say he’s the favorite. Current Committee Ranking Member Joe Barton, R-Texas, must step down under GOP term-limit rules unless he gets a waiver from the Republican leadership.
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Upton condemned what he sees as regulatory overreach by the FCC and other federal agencies. He has opposed the FCC’s “third way” proposal to reclassify broadband transport under Title II of the Communications Act. “This Congress has failed to exercise oversight over agencies that have been developing regulations that stifle private investment and send American jobs overseas,” he said in the op-ed. Republicans would have a “fundamentally different” approach if they recapture the House, he said. “No significant regulation should take effect until Congress has voted to approve it and the president has had an opportunity to approve or veto congressional action."
Other Republicans believed to want the top spot on Commerce also have opposed reclassification by the FCC. They include Communications Subcommittee ranking member Cliff Stearns, R-Fla., and Rep. John Shimkus, R-Ill. Stearns has said he wants the job. Upton is the most senior Republican of the three and the third most senior member on the committee after Texas members Barton and Rep. Ralph Hall, R-Texas. Earlier this month, Barton said he wants another term leading the committee and would take a hard stance against FCC reclassification (CD Oct 7 p1).
Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., could be in the running for the top GOP spot in the Communications Subcommittee after the election, Politico reported Tuesday. The paper cited three tech lobbyists. But a Walden spokesman told us that the congressman is focused on taking back the House in next month’s election. Walden, on a leave of absence from the Commerce Committee to chair the Republican leadership, plans to return to the Commerce Committee after the election, the spokesman said. Stearns told us Tuesday it’s “too early to speculate” about the committee and subcommittee leadership positions. However, if the committee job is open, “my experience chairing a subcommittee in the majority, my entrepreneurial skills in building a small business, and my conservative record would make me an effective leader."
Meanwhile, telecom and tech companies continued to funnel money to Communications Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Va., in his campaign against Republican Morgan Griffith. Boucher is favored to win, but Republicans have been pouring ad money into the area (CD Sept 16 p11), and political analysts say even incumbents who haven’t faced a close election in years may be vulnerable this time.
As of Sept. 30, Boucher had received $109,450 from the media industry, $78,900 from telephone companies, $77,938 from computer and Internet companies, and $69,050 from telecom services and equipment suppliers, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Griffith received no money from those industries. In those industries, Verizon contributed the most ($28,500), followed closely by Dish Network ($23,250), Go Daddy ($22,000), Comcast ($20,200) and Qwest ($14,000). Contributing about $10,000 each were AT&T, Google, Liberty Media, NCTA and the American Cable Association. Boucher now has nearly $1.4 million in cash on hand, compared with $292,895 for Griffith. In the 2010 election cycle, Boucher has raised $2.16 million and spent $2.15 million. Griffith has raised $713,948 and spent $421,051. Though Boucher’s ninth district has voted Republican in other state and national races over the years, it has elected Boucher 14 straight times since 1982.