Inouye Telecom Agenda

INOUYE TELECOM AGENDA
[SOURCE: Technology Daily 4/10, AUTHOR: David Hatch]
Senate Commerce Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) said he plans to introduce legislation updating the $7.3 billion universal service program by July at the latest. "If you look at the makeup of the committee, most of them represent rural America. You can't ignore that," Sen Inouye said. He might try to move that bill and related ones between January and June 2008. "If you don't finish up your work next year by June, forget it. It's election time." While he favors pursuing a series of targeted communications measures instead of sweeping legislation, no final decision has been made. "That's the question we have not resolved yet," he said. The senator acknowledged that the targeted approach has a weakness: "You can't just work on one aspect and not the others." Regarding the digital TV transition, Inouye hinted the panel might scrutinize a government coupon program designed to help Americans purchase equipment needed to keep analog sets functioning after the Feb. 17, 2009 switchover. He echoed Democrats' concerns that the effort is underfunded and too restrictive, but opposes extending the deadline because it sends the wrong message.
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-RJZT1176408282215.html