I’ve got a scoop! I think I now know how President Clinton plans to balance the budget. By selling the budget-all five volumes of the fiscal ’97 spending plan for $100.
Reporters, lobbyists, trade associations and think tanks eat this stuff up. What fools we are. Presidential budgets are much like the New Hampshire primary. Both are rich in tradition and symbolism, and draw great fanfare. But each is overrated insofar as its significance in the big picture.
Evidence the fact that GOP presidential nominee Bob Dole (R-Kan.), House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) and House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-Texas) met with Clinton last week to find a compromise on five remaining appropriations bills covering the Federal Communications Commission and a slew of other government agencies for the remainder of this fiscal year, which began six months ago.
…More fan mail for FCC Chairman Reed Hundt. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Larry Pressler (R-S.D.) and others urge the auction czar to lift the paging application freeze.
Then there’s the March 14 letter in which Carl Thompson, president of North American Wireless Inc., attempts to distance the firm from CDMA evangelist and GSM basher James Valentine. Thompson said Valentine is not a major investor in NAWI. Better check my notes.
Tom Wheeler, host of this week’s big bash in Dallas, is back on the microwave relocation warpath. He reported to Hundt “several representative cases in which the microwave incumbents’ behavior is so outlandish and irresponsible as to threaten the ability of PCS licensees to begin offering service this year … Enough is enough!”
Contrast that with UTC’s survey of microwave relocation negotiations with PCS operators that concludes all is well. “Unlike the inaccurate statements based on exaggerated figures and half-truths that have been spread by one PCS association, the results of the survey demonstrate that the current rules are working and agreements are being reached.”
Microwave users were grumbling last week about a possible libel suit against Wheeler.
… Clinton wants $18.4 million for NTIA in fiscal 1997.
… Bills of interest to the wireless industry. Immigration reform: High tech firms don’t want quotas on legal immigrants. Copyright: Wireless carriers could be held liable for transmission of unauthorized copyrighted material. Product liability: Manufacturers of mobile telephones would benefit from caps on damages from cancer lawsuits. Equal Opportunity Act: bye-bye to bidding credits.
