WASHINGTON-Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, shocked the telecommunications industry and his fellow lawmakers Thursday when he said that drafts of telecommunications-reform legislation will be available before Congress leaves town next week, and that a hearing will be held shortly after Independence Day.
“Following the Fourth of July recess, we intend to find a day to have a hearing, a substantial hearing. It will take quite a long time, as a matter of fact, to explore some of the issues we think are in real dispute,” said Stevens.
Stevens made his comments at a Senate Commerce Committee business meeting where lawmakers considered various agency nominations. A transcript was made available later.
“If you have any suggestions you wish to have considered, I hope you will give them to the staff so the staff can try to at least get us a side-by-side version of the various views of members on the specific issues that have been developed,” said Stevens.
Stevens said various industries have given the committee “their checklists of various items they wish us to consider.”
CTIA said there was no wireless checklist, but in-depth conversations have been occurring.
In the face of increasing attempts by states to regulate service quality and other consumer issues, the wireless industry has said that federal pre-emption of the states is its key goal for telecommunications reform.
“Not necessarily pre-emption. It is a consistent framework. It is not about taking power away from anybody; it is about making sure the rules are consistent and limiting those rules,” said John Walls, CTIA vice president of communications.
The timing is much quicker than other key lawmakers had given Tuesday. Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) said he would introduce his legislation in July, with Stevens doing something later. Rep. Chip Pickering (R-Miss.) said drafts would be circulated in the House in July and August with consideration in the fall.
