WASHINGTON-The chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee said that listening to the wireless industry has prompted him to set a national standard on the font size of cell-phone contracts and other state regulation of the wireless industry.
“We’ve heard about the cost of complying with the 50 different sets of regulations issued by state agencies. And we’ve got a cellular industry that’s trying to cope with the different standards for consumer bills,” said Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee. “It appears to us that we ought to think about some kind of national solution, and this would also apply to the font size on cell-phone contracts and advertising. Uniform contract procedures are almost impossible under current circumstances.”
Stevens spoke Monday at the Federal Communications Bar Association luncheon. He spoke about his concept of having closed-door listening sessions with industry before introducing legislation and holding hearings.
The wireless industry has been pressing for pre-emption of state regulation.
“I am one who basically believes in states’ rights, but this is getting to the point now where we will have to find a way to deal with these issues that, I think, confront the industry. We are going to look at generally, the role of states across the board and when state regulation makes sense and when it becomes an unnecessary financial burden not only to the industry, but to consumers,” said Stevens. “Our staffs have met with the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners and its representatives recently to seek their response to some of the proposals that have been presented to us to pre-empt state laws and to develop national standards that could be implemented at the local level.”
Another topic to be included in a telecommunications reform bill is the way the Federal Communications Commission conducts business under the Sunshine Act. Currently, only two commissioners can be in a room at the same time unless it is an open meeting.
“I don’t think the FCC could meet with the president together. That is not sunshine, that is stupidity as far as I’m concerned,” said Stevens. “We want to find a way to modify these existing laws to promote cooperation and discussion between Congress and its committees and the FCC. And, I think we can retain the basic goal of transparency in decision making at the same time.”
