WASHINGTON, D.C. –
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Ranking Member on the Senate Commerce,
Science, and Transportation Committee, today made the following statement after
it was announced that the Senate Commerce Committee and the House Energy and
Commerce Committee would begin a process to update the Telecommunications Act
of 1996:
“Congressional
action to update the Communications Act is a clear signal to Chairman
Genachowski to stand down on his recently announced plans to reclassify
broadband services. Instead of an antiquated regulatory scheme imposed by the
FCC, Congress will work to develop a legal and regulatory framework appropriate
for our modern communications market.
Our nation has experienced robust investment and innovation in the
telecommunications sector, and is a global leader in online content and
applications because our country does not have a burdensome regulatory
environment. Congress is stepping in to address this issue because
without our intervention, the FCC’s proposed regulations could stifle future
investment in broadband services. I look forward to being an active
participant as we move forward on crafting a bipartisan update to the
Communications Act.”
# # #