Telecommunications
Spectrum Auction
I have been working with my colleagues, both Democrat and Republican, to find a middle ground that protects free over-the-air television and provides public safety professionals the tools they need to do their jobs safely. As Congress continues its work on spectrum legislation, it is the role and obligation of Congress to specify the authority of regulatory agencies such as the FCC. It is important that the Commission is reminded that they are not permitted to operate outside the constraints of Congressional authority. I am confident that Congress will complete its work on spectrum and allow a spectrum auction that creates a nationwide interoperable public safety network, increases efficiencies in our spectrum use, and protects free over-the-air television. I am an original co-sponsor of H.R.2482, the Public Safety Spectrum and Wireless Innovation Act, which aims to achieve these goals.
Net Neutrality
While I support a free and open Internet, I also believe we must do more to support expanding broadband deployment to underserved areas and reducing costs for Internet service. For these reasons, I believe high traffic users should pay their fair share. The "all you can eat" broadband pricing model is based around average use by all subscribers. As a result, the low consumption users are, in effect, subsidizing the high consumption users. I believe it is reasonable that if a user is consuming exponentially more bandwidth than their neighbors and clogging the last mile network, than that user’s bandwidth must either be limited at peak traffic times or they should pay more for that additional bandwidth. If this type of fee structure is not implemented then service will become less reliable and more expensive for users that are not consuming at the same high levels.
In the recent court case on broadband regulation, Comcast argued that the FCC did not have adequate authority to enforce its Internet policy statement, therefore making the FCC’s action against the company invalid. The FCC argued that while it did not have express statutory authority over such practices, it derived such authority based on its ancillary authority contained in Title I of the 1934 Communications Act. On April 6, 2010, the court ruled (3-0) that the FCC did not have the proper authority to regulate an Internet service provider's network management practices and vacated the FCC's order. As a result of this court ruling, the FCC announced plans to reclassify regulation of the Internet under Title II of the Communications Act. I strongly opposed these efforts. After receiving overwhelming feedback from Members of Congress, the FCC issued a revised Open Internet Order that avoids Title II altogether. While I find this Order less than ideal, I do believe that this is a step in the right direction.
With so much at stake, as well as the complexity and long history of the ongoing debate about network neutrality principles in Congress, our broadband policy should be determined through the legislative process by those accountable to the American public and not by rulemaking of unelected bureaucrats. I hope that this Congress will make a long overdue update to the Communications Act that will add regulatory certainty, benefit job creation, and spur technological innovation.
Improving Education
The Universal Service fees from long distance charges go towards two primary purposes: bringing service to rural areas, and providing schools and libraries with telecommunication equipment for educational purposes, especially for low-income schools. I have worked to make Universal Service funding available for educational purposes and to help schools and libraries take advantage of this opportunity.
Creating Jobs
More and more Texans are becoming involved in the telecommunications industry, employed by service or equipment providers. As a Member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, I am working to maintain a fair regulatory environment for the industry to allow for its healthy growth and provide new opportunities for Texas jobs.
Internet Accessibility
The internet is a powerful tool for education, communication, information, and entertainment. Unfortunately, many families with tight budgets cannot afford to move online. My position on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce allows me the opportunity to work to expand internet access and improve internet competition, in order to reduce access prices and close the "Digital Divide" between those online and those who are not. Recently, Connected Texas and the Texas Department of Agriculture completed a statewide project to assess the level of broadband penetration in the state. What it found was that about 3% of Texas households do not have access to the most basic of broadband access. While this is a significant achievement, we must make sure that Texas expands coverage and also maintains this level of deployment as speeds increase and technology improves.