Former Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont., a member of the Senate Commerce Committee who focused on communications issues, died Thursday at his home in Billings at age 81. Burns was elected to the Senate in 1988 and twice re-elected before losing…
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a close election to Democrat Jon Tester in 2006. Burns was a livestock auctioneer, traveling salesman and agriculture news broadcaster before turning to politics. NAB CEO Gordon Smith, who served with Burns in the Senate, noted his death. “Conrad's deep appreciation for local broadcasting -- based on his many years of service as a farm broadcaster in Montana -- was evident on the Senate Commerce Committee,” Smith said. The NG911 Institute said in a statement that Burns was a founding co-chair of the Congressional E911 Caucus. “Not only was he successful in his pursuit of improving the 911 system, but he did it in a bipartisan manner,” the group said. Burns is survived by wife and two children. Funeral arrangements are pending.