WASHINGTON-Spectrum-management policy looms large on the agenda of a key lawmaker even as the new chairman of the Federal Communications Commission says he will not comment on the policy initiatives of either Capitol Hill or the Bush administration.
That is not to say that Michael K. Powell will not be asked to give his expert impressions on telecommunications issues such as spectrum policy. Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Mont.), chairman of the Senate communications subcommittee, plans to sit down with Powell to work out a plan that Burns said will move spectrum policy into the 21st Century. Burns said Powell indicated his willingness to move forward on spectrum policy in a recent telephone conversation.
Powell gave a preview of what he might tell Burns during his press conference last week, his first since becoming chairman. Third-generation wireless services “is an important component of the realization of that third leg of the triumvirate, if you will, and I think that the commission will do everything in its power to make sure that spectrum is not unnecessarily encumbered. … Everything looks simple on paper but there are many, many complex relationships that have to be worked through,” he said.
The wireless industry welcomed Burns’ interest in spectrum-management issues.
“He sorta jumped the gun but our official position is that we are extremely pleased it is on his list. … This is an issue we have to look at and find some answers. … It is something that Congress has to look at,” said Steven K. Berry, senior vice president for congressional affairs for the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association.
Burns said he will not hold hearings on spectrum-management policy until there has been a lot of private meetings. A press release indicated some of the reforms might include lifting the spectrum cap and “creating a panel of defense industry and technology experts to more efficiently allocate spectrum.”
In addition to spectrum-management policy reform, Burns laid out the rest of his telecommunications/high-tech agenda for the 107th Congress known as the Tech 7.
The Tech 7 follows on the heels of the Digital Dozen-his agenda for the last Congress. Burns was fairly successful with his Digital Dozen; six of the 12 goals were accomplished with another one partially finished.
Three of the items make repeat appearances along with the broadband portions that have not yet been accomplished. These include online privacy, anti-spamming legislation and an e-government initiative.
Burns’ communications subcommittee will hold a hearing on the electronic spam issues including wireless spam on Feb. 27. Berry said they have talked with Burns about what he wants to accomplish with his anti-spam legislation, but currently there is no witness list for the hearing.
One item from the Digital Dozen that has dropped off but that will play a large role in telecom policy is FCC reform. Powell said his main objective will be to internally reform the agency to make it better work with companies that “work on Internet time.”
“Uncertainty is a greater danger … than any decision one way or the other,” said Powell.
FCC reform has often gotten gummed up in the past because reforming the agency may mean opening the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which celebrated its fifth anniversary last week. Rep. Billy Tauzin (R-La.), chairman of the House Commerce Committee, has indicated a willingness to look at changes to the act, some of which could encompass FCC reform.
“If we made one mistake in 1996, it’s that we did not reform the FCC at the same time we reformed the law,” said Tauzin.
With or without congressional action, Powell said he would proceed with his approach. “I am not afraid to do the hard work. With or without legislation.”
Powell’s reactive, rather than proactive, stance will be a change from his Democrat predecessors who offered initiatives that often got them in trouble with Capitol Hill.
“We have no shortage of things on our plate that we are involved in. … My sense is the vast majority of our agenda is responsive … much more judicious than legislative,” Powell said.
