Washington Update:Who are the people and issues

to watch in 2005

Wendy WigenSue Fratkin

Net@EDU Annual MeetingTempe, AZ

February 6-8, 2005

Copyright Wendy Wigen and Sue Fratkin, 2005.This work is the intellectual property of the authors. Permission is granted for this material to be shared for non-commercial, educational purposes, provided that this copyright statement appears on the reproduced materials and notice is given that the copying is by permission of the authors. To disseminate otherwise or to republish requires written permission from the authors.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael Powell Issues to watch

Congressional Committees People Priority Issues

Federal Funding

“In the very near future, there will be only the most modest of differences among telecom providers… there is no triple play (voice, data, video), there is just one play—data.”

Chairman Michael Powell (January, 2005)

Where communications are going……the Law will follow

voice data video

wired

internationallong distancelocal

wireless

Packet-based

Ubiquitous

Communication

The FCC after Powell

Some predict:New focus from the White House on technology and telecommunicationsDebate moving to broadband/VoIP Policy

What is certain:New Chairman and a new Commissioner

Top Candidates

Commissioner Kevin Martin

Former Texas Public Utility Commissioner Becky Klein

Michael Gallagher

Top Issues at the FCC

Intercarrier Compensation and the Universal Service Fund

“What does Universal Service mean in the 21st Century?” Commissioner Copps

Intercarrier Compensation Forum (ICF) Plan http://www2.sprint.com/mr/topic.do?topicId=180• Move to flat rate based on number and/or

connection• Move to regulatory parity in both collection and

distribution – i.e. wireless receive funds to extend into rural areas

Top FCC Issues

Wireless: more spectrum, licensed and unlicensed available for wireless broadband access

Digital TV TransitionGovernment Spectrum Relocation (NTIA)

Up to 15 VoIP proceedings expected

Watching Brand X

Senate

Senate Commerce Committee: Chairman: Senator StevensTelecommunications Rewrite

Senate Judiciary: Subcommittee Chair: Senator HatchCopyrightPatriot Act

House: People and Issues

House Commerce Committee: Chairman Rep. BartonSubcommittee Chairman Rep. UptonDigital TV transition $$$Telecom Reform (USF)

The House

House Science CommitteeChairman Rep. BoehlertResearch Subcommittee: Rep. Inglis

House Judiciary CommitteeChairman Rep. Sensenbrenner

House Appropriations CommitteeChairman Rep. LewisHUD/VA/NSF, NASA, EPA subcommittee gone

The Senate

Senate Commerce CommitteeCommunications Subcommittee goneScience and Technology Subcommittee leadership?

Senate Appropriations CommitteeChairman Senator CochranHUD/VA/NSF, NASA, EPA subcommitee?

EDUCAUSE Federal Policy Program

www.educause.edu/policy