Chairman Barton would arrange Strickling visit to Capitol Hill

If Rep Joe Barton (R-TX) becomes chairman of the House Commerce Committee, expect National telecommunications and Information Administration head Lawrence Strickling to get called to Capitol Hill to defend his policies.

At issue is the broadband stimulus doled out by the NTIA in grants promoting the buildout of broadband networks. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided $4.7 billion to NTIA to support the deployment of broadband infrastructure and related purposes. "We're not convinced [broadband stimulus dollars are] are serving their function to either expand broadband or create jobs," a committee aide for the GOP said. "There is no economic business case for the government to deploy a lot of money when its being wasted in areas where there is already service."