Rep. Rush Holt (D-N.J.) postponed introduction of legislation to prohibit unsolicited advertising on mobile phones. Holt was to go forward with the mobile-phone spam measure Thursday, but pressing business delayed the introduction, said his office.
A House transportation subcommittee scratched a hearing on digital driver distractions originally planned for this Wednesday. Aides said it is unlikely the hearing will be rescheduled before Congress adjourns next month.
Bob Nash, White House director of personnel, said all options are being considered to get Democrat Susan Ness confirmed for a second term at the Federal Communications Commission. Ness’ nomination has been pending for more than a year. In March, the Senate Commerce Committee said it would schedule a vote on the nomination. But Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) has yet to do so, increasing speculation that President Clinton might give Ness a recess appointment after Congress adjourns next month.
Aides to FCC Chairman William Kennard denied a news report last week that said Kennard plans to leave the agency before year’s end regardless of who wins this fall’s presidential election. Kennard, a Clinton appointee, is seen as a rising star in Democratic politics.
A group representing electric, gas and water utilities, railroads, state and local public safety, oil companies and other industries asked the FCC for clarification and reconsideration of rules governing the relocation of fixed wireless licenses from the 2 GHz mobile satellite band. Enron North America filed a separate petition.
The Urban Institute released a study to coincide with the start of the school year that shows that subsidies for connecting schools and libraries to the Internet-the E-rate-seem to be working. Public schools received 84 percent of the E-rate funding, which helped connect 95 percent of the public schools to the Internet (up from 65 percent in 1996) and 63 percent of public school classroom. This last figure is up more than 50 percent from the 14 percent of classrooms that were connected in 1996.
