House Commerce Eyes Video Buildout Deal, Pickering Says
House Commerce Committee members are nearing agreement on video franchise buildout by new entrants into the pay TV market, said Rep. Pickering (R-Miss.). “I think we're getting closer on the video buildout issue,” he told reporters after an NAB speech. The committee vice chairman, echoing cable and telecom industry sentiment, said there’s a slim chance of passing comprehensive telecom reform this legislative session. “There will be limited ability to get a lot done,” Pickering told TV station officials: “We will try to pick out 3 or 4 areas and get something done.” Action on broadcast flags and artist “performance rights” issues are unlikely, he said.
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Broadcast flag legislation would have a chance only if packaged with “some version of fair use” principles, House Commerce Committee Chmn. Barton (R-Tex.) told broadcasters. It’s unlikely to pass on its own this year, he said, especially with only 55 legislative days left this Congress. The other obstacle is getting the Senate to match House legislation, Barton said: “On a good day, the Senate can’t agree whether the sun is coming up in the East, and that’s on a good day, and they're not many of those.”
Barton said he hoped bipartisan talks this week among Pickering and Commerce and Telecom Subcommittee leaders would yield a bipartisan telecom bill. “I'm in favor of a national franchise,” Barton said, but there’s still considerable discussion within the group, which includes Barton, Pickering, Ranking Member Dingell (D-Mich.), Telecom Subcommittee Chmn. Upton (R-Mich.) and Ranking Member Markey (D-Mass.). Barton stressed there aren’t any “agreed-upon priorities” yet but the members are “still working together.” He said he expects a draft this week or early next.
“Discussion” by Commerce Committee members may be slowing a video reform deal, said Pickering: “I don’t think there’s dissension. I think there’s discussion” on how broad a bill should be. He said later that committee members would meet Tues. afternoon and might determine the scope of a telecom reform bill. Bells including Verizon have said they shouldn’t be forced to offer TV to everyone in a locality. A law heading toward passage in Va. and backed by Verizon would require buildout to 80% of a territory within 10 years (CD Feb 28 p7).
Committee members don’t agree on net neutrality, Pickering said: “I think there’s agreement on principle, not the concept.” Net neutrality, E-911 rules and video franchising are among the top priorities for any telecom bill, he said. Narrowing the range of topics may speed passage, he said, but “when you take something out it can limit your ability to provide broader agreement.” The congressman has previously said the Web shouldn’t be regulated (CD Oct 17 p1).
Media ownership is an issue the panel, like the FCC, is unlikely to weigh in on this year, said Pickering. “The FCC is another area we need to reform,” he said, drawing widespread applause.