Stevens Seeks To Push Telecom Bill Before Easter

[SOURCE: Technology Daily 3/7, AUTHOR: Drew Clark]
Senate Commerce Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) said he wants the committee to pass telecom legislation before the Easter recess, pushing aside some lawmakers' concerns that the proposed merger of AT&T and BellSouth should cause Congress to slow down. Sen Stevens said he did not agree with concerns raised about the merger by panel ranking member Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) because "what is developing now [is] an entirely different communications picture for the entire country." Speaking after a committee hearing on rural telecommunications issues, Sen Stevens said Congress should "ensure that whatever results of mergers take place, we have a more balanced world" of competition between cable, telephone and wireless services. Sen Stevens said the committee would begin to assemble senators' proposals for inclusion in telecom legislation this weekend. At a minimum, the chairman said he sought to include enhancing the universal telephone service fund and revising video franchise rules.
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-UBIV1141856625001.html