WASHINGTON-New Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) intends to eliminate the communications subcommittee, a move that would strengthen the lawmaker’s influence over the planned re-write of the 1996 telecom act and effectively weaken the clout Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) would have had on telecom reform had he headed the communications panel.
McCain, whose push for federal boxing regulation temporarily blocked the passage of spectrum relocation, enhanced 911 grant and universal service fund bills in December, is an outspoken critic of pork-barrel spending. Sometimes that criticism extends to projects benefiting Alaska.
“Sen. Stevens very much wants to work on telecommunications issues,” said Melanie Alvord, a spokeswoman for the Senate Commerce Committee.
As head of the Commerce Committee, Stevens is allowed to chair only one subcommittee in the Senate. Alvord said Stevens does not want to relinquish chairmanship of the defense appropriations subcommittee.
The likely elimination of the communications panel is part of a larger reorganization, Alvord said. She pointed out that under former Commerce Committee Chairman McCain, most telecommunications policy issues were taken up by the full committee. Indeed, the Senate communications subcommittee historically has had far less stature than its House counterpart.
Stevens was quoted as saying he is not punishing McCain for criticizing pork-barrel spending. Alvord said Stevens is trying to find another subcommittee to accommodate McCain.
McCain’s press aide did not return calls for comment.
The impact, if any, on the wireless industry is unclear. At a minimum, Stevens is apt to give rural telecom issues even more visibility and weight than they already have on the committee.
The mobile-phone industry is expected to fight for broader federal pre-emption in any overhaul of the 1996 telecom act, a change that would better shield wireless carriers from state taxes and regulations.
