Senate Commerce Committee

Rockefeller Seeks NTIA Help in Delaying Domain Name Increase

Stevie Converse — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 11:42:57 -0500

Full article: Broadcasting & Cable
John Eggerton
Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-W. Va.) says the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers is not taking the slow and steady approach to expanding generic top level domain names, which could have "adverse consequences" for consumers, companies and nonprofits.

Panel OKs More Wireless Spectrum for Public Safety

Stevie Converse — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 09:45:36 -0400

Full article: Wired
Sam Gustin
The Senate Commerce Committee has approved a bill designed to free up valuable wireless spectrum for a national public safety network, as well as provide the FCC with the authority to allow commercial uses of the spectrum when not in use. The bill's advance represents an incremental but important step toward President Obama’s goal of creating a national, interoperable public safety broadband network.

Spectrum Bill Passage Draws a Crowd

Stevie Converse — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 09:16:45 -0400

Full article: Broadcasting & Cable
John Eggerton
Reaction continued to the Senate Commerce Committee passage of an incentive auction/first responder broadband network bill. The bill included an amendment saying that the TV band "white spaces" the FCC authorized for use by unlicensed devices would remain available in the post-reclamation TV band, but Free Press suggested the bill might not be able to achieve that goal given the way it was written.

Senate Commerce Committee Passes Incentive Auction Bill

Stevie Converse — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 13:20:21 -0400

Full article: Broadcasting & Cable
John Eggerton
With promises to continue to work on the bill before it gets to a floor vote, the Senate Commerce Committee voted 21 to 4 to authorize incentive auctions that would compensate broadcasters for giving up spectrum for wireless broadband.

Democrats Push FCC to Set More Ambitious Broadband Goals

Lindsy Embree — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 09:57:52 -0400

Full article: CQ Politics News
Democrats on the Senate Commerce Committee have signaled that goals set by the FCC for fostering broadband access are too modest.

Hearing Summary -- Universal Service, Transforming the High-Cost Fund for the Broadband Era

Stevie Converse — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 09:21:15 -0400

Full article: Benton Foundation
On June 24, the Senate Commerce Committee held a hearing on transforming the Universal Service Fund from its traditional role of lowering monthly telephone bills to supporting broadband deployment and adoption.

Dorgan Questions Differing Broadband Speeds

Stevie Converse — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 08:49:30 -0400

Full article: National Journal
Juliana Gruenwald
Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) questioned three FCC members over why the Commission has called for broadband speeds in rural areas well below the speed goals set for most other Americans.

Universal Service: Transforming the High-Cost Fund for the Broadband Era

Stevie Converse — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 08:44:37 -0400

Full article: TMCnet.com
The Senate Commerce Committee held a full committee hearing on Universal Service: Transforming the High-Cost Fund for the Broadband Era. Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) called high-value broadband "the Great Enabler of our time."

Senate Commerce Committee Cancels National Broadband Plan Oversight Hearing

Lindsy Embree — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 09:19:57 -0400

Full article: Broadcasting & Cable
John Eggerton
The Senate Commerce Committee abruptly canceled its planned oversight hearing on the national broadband plan. The cancellation appeared to be part of a general hold on committee meetings over the health care bill.

Senate Bill Would Add High-Tech Brain Power at FCC

Stevie Converse — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 10:12:59 -0500

Full article: Washington Post
Cecilia Kang
Members of the FCC could get more high-tech expertise if the Senate passes a new bill aimed at increasing funding for technical resources at the agency. Sens. Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) and Mark Warner (D-Va.) introduced a bill that would allow each of the five FCC commissioners to hire an electrical engineer or computer scientist.