Broadband Plan Could Spur Hostile Legislation
The FCC's upcoming national broadband plan could spur legislation -- but not the sort the Democratic-led commission was expecting. The sweeping technology blueprint, to be formally unveiled March 16, will feature several recommendations for congressional action to achieve the goal of nationwide, affordable broadband access by 2020.
House Republicans, however, might respond with bills designed to "prevent" the agency from adopting some of the regulatory rulemakings it will propose in the plan, said Neil Fried, chief counsel for Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
Fried revealed the legislative strategy during an appearance on a congressional staff panel this morning at the National Association of Broadcasters annual state leadership conference. He later told Tech Daily Dose that lawmakers would pursue the tactic if they're displeased with some steps the agency wants to take.
Fried also told the crowd he expects federal regulators to approve the pending Comcast-NBC Universal merger, though for a rather cynical reason: "to pursue conditions they otherwise couldn't get."
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