A bipartisan group of politicians on Monday told FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, in no uncertain terms, to abandon his plans to impose controversial new rules on broadband providers until the U.S. Congress changes the law. #Bloomberg: #Seventy-four House Democrats sent Genachowski, an Obama appointee and fellow Democrat, a letter saying his ideas will “jeopardize jobs” and “should not be done without additional direction from Congress.” #
A separate letter from 37 Senate Republicans, also sent Monday, was more pointed. It accused Genachowski of pushing “heavy-handed 19th century regulations” that are “inconceivable” as well as illegal. #
Democrats in the U.S. House and Senate said they will consider proposals starting next month to update the law that has regulated telephone, cable and broadcast companies for the past 14 years. #That’s a pretty significant reversal. The May 6th announcement was well-choreographed – the legal argument was put out in an effort to frame the debate, and the relevant committee chairs provided cover. Now those same committee chairs are ready to act legislatively. #The lawmakers will begin “a process to develop proposals” to revise the 1934 Communications Act, which was last rewritten by Congress in 1996, leaders of two committees said today in an e-mailed statement. Senator Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia, chairman of the Commerce Committee, and Representative Henry Waxman of California, chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, are starting the process, according to the statement. #
Perhaps we’ll actually get a revised Communications Act that addresses the current environment. #
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