House Judiciary Carves Out Communications Turf

HOUSE JUDICIARY CARVES OUT COMMUNICATIONS TURF
[SOURCE: Technology Daily, AUTHOR: David Hatch]
The House Judiciary Committee took several major steps toward carving out its turf over communications issues, setting the stage for a possible showdown with the House Commerce panel. Judiciary, headed by Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI), a frequent critic of the Bell companies, announced plans to hold multiple hearings on communications policy this spring. The first would focus on industry consolidation and the state of the 1996 Telecommunications Act, which critics say is outdated. Also, Judiciary is said to be in the early stages of contemplating major communications legislation that would build on a measure introduced by Rep Sensenbrenner and ranking member John Conyers (D-MI). The pending bill would bolster enforcement of anti-competitive violations under the 1996 law. The panel has created a telecom and antitrust task force. Largely a formality, the task force's tenure will run from April 1 through Sept. 1, but it could be extended.
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-YXSF1142542072567.html