House Judiciary Chairman Demands Review Of Telecom Bill

HOUSE JUDICIARY CHAIRMAN DEMANDS REVIEW OF TELECOM BILL
[SOURCE: Technology Daily, AUTHOR: Drew Clark]
House Judiciary Chairman James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) is vehement that his panel be able to review a telecommunications bill passed late last month in the House Commerce Committee. In a letter to Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL), Chairman Sensenbrenner said that if his request is declined, Rep Hastert should refrain from scheduling floor action on the bill until the Judiciary panel can consider telecom legislation of its own. House Commerce Chairman Joe Barton (R-Texas) does not want the Judiciary Committee to consider his bill, and sought to craft the legislation in such a way as to keep it out of the Judiciary panel's jurisdiction. The measure, H.R. 5252, would permit the former regional Bell operating companies to quickly enter the video marketplace. It has been publicly supported by Speaker Hastert, who played a significant role in crafting the 1996 Telecommunications Act as a member of the Commerce Committee before he assumed the House speakership in 1998. Chairman Sensenbrenner's letter details many reasons why he believes the Judiciary panel should have jurisdiction over the bill. He cited issues such as antitrust law, the province of Judiciary committees, pre-emption of consumer protection laws, administrative procedures, taxes on interstate commerce, rights to private property, child pornography, and civil rights. Industry sources differ on whether the Judiciary Committee will be granted a referral. If the Judiciary panel receives a referral, House action on the Barton bill could be delayed until June. Otherwise, a floor vote could occur in the next couple of weeks. The Judiciary Committee was not granted a referral over the 1984 or 1992 cable acts, which would be most affected by Barton's bill. The Judiciary panel had a referral over the 1996 Telecom Act and a portion of a Commerce Committee 2001 measure to liberalize broadband regulation. Besides a referral or a vote delay, Hastert could promise Sensenbrenner an amendment or action on an unrelated priority
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