Senate Panel Rallying Troops In Support Of Telecom Bill

SENATE PANEL RALLYING TROOPS IN SUPPORT OF TELECOM BILL
[SOURCE: Technology Daily, AUTHOR: David Hatch]
The Senate Commerce Committee quietly is rallying industry troops to lobby hard for passage of the massive telecommunications legislation adopted by the panel in late June after a marathon three-day markup. Top aides to Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) met July 10 with representatives of the Bell companies, wireless industry and other stakeholders to harness their lobbying muscle, sources said. They said the committee will conduct ongoing meetings with these parties as it seeks to build greater lawmaker support for the measure. One observer described the message of Monday's meeting as: "We need to reach out to all the members of the Senate." Industry and association representatives were told to report back to committee staffers regarding the level of interest that lawmakers have in the bill. Sen Stevens has said he does not expect his bill to reach the floor until September at the earliest. Sen Stevens has lowered expectations for speedy passage by publicly acknowledging that his legislation faces opposition and may have to be slimmed down to attract more support. But at this juncture, he apparently wants to give the version approved by his committee a chance before narrowing its scope, observers said. A Senate Commerce spokesman did not have an immediate response. Among the scenarios being discussed for moving the bill are bringing it to the floor in its current state, adding it to another vehicle, passing a more streamlined version on the floor, or adding a narrower iteration to broader legislation.
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