Congress may need to pass legislation to encourage federal agencies to relinquish their spectrum, commerce secretary nominee Wilbur Ross told the Senate Commerce Committee Wednesday during his confirmation hearing. It was a first direct public comment on the topic by any officials affiliated with the incoming Trump administration. Spectrum was a frequent topic during the hearing, which lasted nearly four hours.

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s campaign is devoid of a telecom and tech policy agenda less than 40 days before the general election, despite a transition team meeting planned with tech and telecom policy stakeholders in Washington this week (see 1609290070). Republican members of Congress told us the Trump campaign should look to lawmakers’ ideas for guidance. Democratic lawmakers called Trump's policy void alarming.

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s campaign is devoid of a telecom and tech policy agenda less than 40 days before the general election, despite a transition team meeting planned with tech and telecom policy stakeholders in Washington this week (see 1609290070). Republican members of Congress told us the Trump campaign should look to lawmakers’ ideas for guidance. Democratic lawmakers called Trump's policy void alarming.

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s campaign is devoid of a telecom and tech policy agenda less than 40 days before the general election, despite a transition team meeting planned with tech and telecom policy stakeholders in Washington this week (see 1609290070). Republican members of Congress told us the Trump campaign should look to lawmakers’ ideas for guidance. Democratic lawmakers called Trump's policy void alarming.

The Senate Commerce Committee cleared the FCC Reauthorization Act (S-2644) by unanimous voice vote and the FCC Process Reform Act (S-421) by a partisan 13-11 vote Wednesday, as expected (see 1604260058). Senators agreed unanimously to 18 amendments in addition to the substitute amendment from Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., the bill author. The text now includes the Kari’s Law Act (S-2553) and the Spoofing Prevention Act (S-2558).

The Senate Commerce Committee cleared the FCC Reauthorization Act (S-2644) by unanimous voice vote and the FCC Process Reform Act (S-421) by a partisan 13-11 vote Wednesday, as expected (see 1604260058). Senators agreed unanimously to 18 amendments in addition to the substitute amendment from Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., the bill author. The text now includes the Kari’s Law Act (S-2553) and the Spoofing Prevention Act (S-2558).

Wednesday’s Senate Commerce Committee markup may portend well for the FCC Reauthorization Act (S-2644) and less well for the FCC Process Reform Act (S-421), Communications Subcommittee ranking member Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, told us. Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., said last week he’s trying to keep FCC reauthorization narrowly focused (see 1604210057) and emphasized that goal again Tuesday when telling us of his goals for a hotline. The markup is 10:15 a.m. Wednesday in 253 Russell. Senate staffers contended with at least 39 amendments filed for the FCC Reauthorization Act and at least eight filed for the FCC Process Reform Act.

Wednesday’s Senate Commerce Committee markup may portend well for the FCC Reauthorization Act (S-2644) and less well for the FCC Process Reform Act (S-421), Communications Subcommittee ranking member Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, told us. Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., said last week he’s trying to keep FCC reauthorization narrowly focused (see 1604210057) and emphasized that goal again Tuesday when telling us of his goals for a hotline. The markup is 10:15 a.m. Wednesday in 253 Russell. Senate staffers contended with at least 39 amendments filed for the FCC Reauthorization Act and at least eight filed for the FCC Process Reform Act.

Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., quietly expanded his FCC Reauthorization Act (S-2644) less than a week before the Senate Commerce Committee plans to mark it up. He privately circulated a substitute amendment to S-2644 Thursday that would attach two measures with prominent bipartisan support -- the Kari’s Law Act (S-2553) and the Spoofing Prevention Act (S-2558). The markup is at 10 a.m. Wednesday in 253 Russell.

Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., quietly expanded his FCC Reauthorization Act (S-2644) less than a week before the Senate Commerce Committee plans to mark it up. He privately circulated a substitute amendment to S-2644 Thursday that would attach two measures with prominent bipartisan support -- the Kari’s Law Act (S-2553) and the Spoofing Prevention Act (S-2558). The markup is at 10 a.m. Wednesday in 253 Russell.