Wireless executives should be opening up their checkbooks about now to thank the House GOP. What a bunch of guys. From now on, we shall refer to the chamber as the Wireless House.
Let history record that these patriotic lawmakers-otherwise frantically scrambling to pass a whopper government spending bill that should’ve been completed months ago-would sacrifice well-deserved down time this holiday season to buy an extra day or so to pass a couple of wireless bills.
To think that House Speaker Denny Hastert (R-Ill.), House Armed Services Committee Chairman Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) and House Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner Jr. (R-Wis.) would be willing to embarrass President Bush and thumb their noses at the American people to get two big wireless bills through Congress this year. That’s my definition of patriotism.
What heroic cunning to make a last-minute fuss over post-9/11 intelligence reform so bills to bolster 3G, wireless E911 and universal service could live another day. Yes, it’s true. Were it not for the gridlock genius of Hastert, Hunter and Sensenbrenner, relocation fund, E911 grant and universal service legislation would be dead for the year.
Now, thanks to Hastert & Co., Christmas may come early for the wireless industry.
Next week, the House and Senate will likely stage an encore performance of this year’s award-winning lame-duck session of Congress. At that time, the gods of Congress willing, it is possible that relocation fund, wireless E911 and universal service will indeed cross the finish line. It is the season of miracles after all.
Some suspect Defense Secretary Don Rumsfeld might be one of the legislative insurgents, seeing the intel bill would give a new intelligence czar dominion over Pentagon intelligence-gathering activities. So don’t forget to send ol’ Rummy a Christmas card. The DoD chief is emerging as a real champion of the wireless industry. First, he agrees to clear out some of the military’s 1700 MHz band to make room for third-generation wireless services, and now his agency has crashed the intel party. All to ensure that wireless legislation is passed by Congress this year. That’ll attract a few RCR Wireless News Person of the Year votes.
Reporters across the country have bought into this silly notion that House honchos would actually sabotage bipartisan-backed intelligence reform over so petty a thing as turf. But I know better. They did it for the wireless industry. I was wrong: CTIA President Steve Largent has clout.
