Congress working to rewrite Telecommunications Act

HOUSE COMMERCE COMMITTEE Chairman JOE BARTON (R-TX) says he wants to "re-think the old rules" and "Start from scratch" in a sweeping rewrite of telecommunications laws. BARTON told an audience at a FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS BAR ASSOCIATION luncheon TUESDAY (4/12) that he hoped to get a rewrite of the 1996 Telecommunications Act approved by Congress by AUGUST. "We'll start with a clean piece of paper and see if we can come up with an enhancement or substitute," BARTON said, although NATIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Pres. THOMAS DONOHUE said he does not expect reform of the rules to be passed this year.