A House Democratic leadership aide told us Democrats are likely to rebel against the FY 2017 FCC funding bill and stand-alone legislation to curb the Lifeline program, both being brought to the House floor this week. Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga., is attempting to get two different proposals addressing the Lifeline program through the floor, one as a Financial Services bill amendment (see 1606170060) and another as stand-alone legislation being considered Tuesday under suspension of the rules.
A House Democratic leadership aide told us Democrats are likely to rebel against the FY 2017 FCC funding bill and stand-alone legislation to curb the Lifeline program, both being brought to the House floor this week. Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga., is attempting to get two different proposals addressing the Lifeline program through the floor, one as a Financial Services bill amendment (see 1606170060) and another as stand-alone legislation being considered Tuesday under suspension of the rules.
The House is poised to consider its divisive FY 2017 FCC funding bill on the floor this week. House Republican amendments filed Friday already tackle some key telecom issues. Commerce Committee Vice Chairwoman Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., filed a floor amendment that would prohibit "funding for the FCC to use Net Neutrality rules to implement, administer or enforce privacy restrictions against broadband Internet service providers pursuant to Section 222 of the Communications Act." Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga., submitted his own amendment that would prevent "funds from being used to expand the Lifeline program to provide support for broadband internet access until the Federal Communications Commission implements an operating budget that includes a cap that does not exceed $2,000,000,000." A $2-billion Lifeline cap is higher than the $1.5 billion cap in legislation that Scott pressed earlier this year. “The Committee on Rules is likely to meet the week of June 20th to grant a rule that may provide a structured amendment process for floor consideration” of the FY 2017 Financial Services bill (HR-5485), Rules Committee Chairman Pete Sessions, R-Texas, said in a notice last week. “I am committed to a structured process that allows for ample debate, while ensuring we can deliver to the American People the legislative solutions they deserve.” The Rules Committee shows the funding bill, which includes riders curbing the net neutrality order, mandating a pause to the set-top box proceeding and addressing broadcaster joint sales agreements and FCC process, among items “that may be considered pursuant to a rule” this week, not naming a specific day. Amendments are due 12 p.m. Monday, and the committee will meet to address the bill and how to proceed with any filed amendments 5 p.m. Tuesday in H-313 of the Capitol. Rep. Sean Duffy, R-Wis., also filed an amendment Friday that would forbid “funds from being used to implement, administer, or enforce a regulatory action of $100 million unless approved by Congress.” A key Republican appropriator told us earlier this month that there has been GOP debate about whether the amendment process will be “either modified or closed, see how that plays with the other side” (see 1606090057). Democratic aides for key Commerce Committee and Appropriations Committee Democrats didn’t comment about any amendments they may file.
The House is poised to consider its divisive FY 2017 FCC funding bill on the floor this week. House Republican amendments filed Friday already tackle some key telecom issues. Commerce Committee Vice Chairwoman Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., filed a floor amendment that would prohibit "funding for the FCC to use Net Neutrality rules to implement, administer or enforce privacy restrictions against broadband Internet service providers pursuant to Section 222 of the Communications Act." Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga., submitted his own amendment that would prevent "funds from being used to expand the Lifeline program to provide support for broadband internet access until the Federal Communications Commission implements an operating budget that includes a cap that does not exceed $2,000,000,000." A $2-billion Lifeline cap is higher than the $1.5 billion cap in legislation that Scott pressed earlier this year. “The Committee on Rules is likely to meet the week of June 20th to grant a rule that may provide a structured amendment process for floor consideration” of the FY 2017 Financial Services bill (HR-5485), Rules Committee Chairman Pete Sessions, R-Texas, said in a notice last week. “I am committed to a structured process that allows for ample debate, while ensuring we can deliver to the American People the legislative solutions they deserve.” The Rules Committee shows the funding bill, which includes riders curbing the net neutrality order, mandating a pause to the set-top box proceeding and addressing broadcaster joint sales agreements and FCC process, among items “that may be considered pursuant to a rule” this week, not naming a specific day. Amendments are due 12 p.m. Monday, and the committee will meet to address the bill and how to proceed with any filed amendments 5 p.m. Tuesday in H-313 of the Capitol. Rep. Sean Duffy, R-Wis., also filed an amendment Friday that would forbid “funds from being used to implement, administer, or enforce a regulatory action of $100 million unless approved by Congress.” A key Republican appropriator told us earlier this month that there has been GOP debate about whether the amendment process will be “either modified or closed, see how that plays with the other side” (see 1606090057). Democratic aides for key Commerce Committee and Appropriations Committee Democrats didn’t comment about any amendments they may file.
Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, succeeded at quietly watering down the Senate’s set-top box rider attached to the FY 2017 Financial Services funding bill, which advanced through the full Appropriations Committee Thursday in a 30-0 vote. The rider, which would force a pause to the FCC's set-top rulemaking for further study, never came up directly during the long markup, encompassing FY2017 FCC and FTC funding. But Schatz changed the wording of the set-top rider through the bill’s manager’s package, unanimously accepted as part of the bill.
Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, succeeded at quietly watering down the Senate’s set-top box rider attached to the FY 2017 Financial Services funding bill, which advanced through the full Appropriations Committee Thursday in a 30-0 vote. The rider, which would force a pause to the FCC's set-top rulemaking for further study, never came up directly during the long markup, encompassing FY2017 FCC and FTC funding. But Schatz changed the wording of the set-top rider through the bill’s manager’s package, unanimously accepted as part of the bill.
A Democratic Senate appropriator told us a set-top box rider may stay hitched to the appropriations legislation this year. The Senate’s FY 2017 funding bill followed the House lead and included a rider to require “the FCC to complete an impact study of the agency’s set top box proposal” and another that “reaffirms congressional intent on grandfathered joint sales agreements,” said a GOP summary. The Senate Appropriations Financial Services Subcommittee cleared the bill Wednesday and the Appropriations Committee will mark up the measure at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in 106 Dirksen.
A Democratic Senate appropriator told us a set-top box rider may stay hitched to the appropriations legislation this year. The Senate’s FY 2017 funding bill followed the House lead and included a rider to require “the FCC to complete an impact study of the agency’s set top box proposal” and another that “reaffirms congressional intent on grandfathered joint sales agreements,” said a GOP summary. The Senate Appropriations Financial Services Subcommittee cleared the bill Wednesday and the Appropriations Committee will mark up the measure at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in 106 Dirksen.
Senate appropriators plan to unveil and mark up FY 2017 FCC and FTC funding this week. The Senate Appropriations Financial Services Subcommittee will mark up its FY 2017 legislation 10 a.m. Wednesday in 138 Dirksen, and on Thursday the full Appropriations Committee will mark up the bill at 10:30 a.m. in 106 Dirksen. Financial Services Subcommittee Chairman John Boozman, R-Ark., told us he’s likely to include language on preserving broadcaster joint sales agreements despite a media ownership court ruling removing FCC limits on them (see 1605260056) and is weighing whether to include riders mandating a set-top box proceeding pause (see 1606020070) and a ban on broadband rate regulation (see 1604070063). He predicted the bill may not see Senate floor time until July (see 1605190050). The House Appropriations Committee included riders on all those issues and cleared its FY 2017 Financial Services bill last week in a divided partisan vote (see 1606090057).
Senate appropriators plan to unveil and mark up FY 2017 FCC and FTC funding this week. The Senate Appropriations Financial Services Subcommittee will mark up its FY 2017 legislation 10 a.m. Wednesday in 138 Dirksen, and on Thursday the full Appropriations Committee will mark up the bill at 10:30 a.m. in 106 Dirksen. Financial Services Subcommittee Chairman John Boozman, R-Ark., told us he’s likely to include language on preserving broadcaster joint sales agreements despite a media ownership court ruling removing FCC limits on them (see 1605260056) and is weighing whether to include riders mandating a set-top box proceeding pause (see 1606020070) and a ban on broadband rate regulation (see 1604070063). He predicted the bill may not see Senate floor time until July (see 1605190050). The House Appropriations Committee included riders on all those issues and cleared its FY 2017 Financial Services bill last week in a divided partisan vote (see 1606090057).