Steve Mehs
01-21-03, 04:38 AM
Sen. Conrad Burns, the Montana Republican and incoming chairman of the Senate Communications Subcommittee, unveiled last week his "NexGenTen Tech" Agenda, a list of top priorities for the current legislative session that includes spectrum reform.
Spectrum reform may have the biggest impact on communications services. "Spectrum reform is long-overdue and I am eager to devote the initial months of my chairmanship to the issue," he said. "In Europe we have witnessed how the system failed consumers, and we must avoid implementing a similarly exploitative process in the United States.”
The other top priorities for the senator is emergency 911 and spam reduction. Burns said he expects to see a spam bill leave the Senate before the summer.
Another item on Burns' agenda is encouraging the roll-out of high-speed Internet services. As part of the effort, Burns introduced a bill with Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) promoting tax incentives for businesses that invest in broadband in the form of an immediate deduction of a capital expenditure in the first year of service, rather than depreciating that interest over time.
"We are in an age where the Internet and telecom industries are at a crossroads," Burns said. "In this era of consolidation, terrorism, and rapid technological innovation, I intend to use this chairmanship of the Senate Communications Subcommittee to provide greater security and to shepherd much-needed reform for consumers."
From SkyReport (http://www.skyreport.com/skyreport/jan2003/012103.shtm#three) (Used with Permission)
Spectrum reform may have the biggest impact on communications services. "Spectrum reform is long-overdue and I am eager to devote the initial months of my chairmanship to the issue," he said. "In Europe we have witnessed how the system failed consumers, and we must avoid implementing a similarly exploitative process in the United States.”
The other top priorities for the senator is emergency 911 and spam reduction. Burns said he expects to see a spam bill leave the Senate before the summer.
Another item on Burns' agenda is encouraging the roll-out of high-speed Internet services. As part of the effort, Burns introduced a bill with Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) promoting tax incentives for businesses that invest in broadband in the form of an immediate deduction of a capital expenditure in the first year of service, rather than depreciating that interest over time.
"We are in an age where the Internet and telecom industries are at a crossroads," Burns said. "In this era of consolidation, terrorism, and rapid technological innovation, I intend to use this chairmanship of the Senate Communications Subcommittee to provide greater security and to shepherd much-needed reform for consumers."
From SkyReport (http://www.skyreport.com/skyreport/jan2003/012103.shtm#three) (Used with Permission)