U.S. Representative gives keynote address at American Enterprise Institute conference about his work leading the House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep Greg Walden (R-Ore.), Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, today gave a keynote address at the American Enterprise Institute’s conference entitled Broadband, economic growth, and the implications for spectrum policy.
Walden discussed how important the technology sector is to providing jobs and economic growth in an increasingly internet-dependent economy. He highlighted the subcommittee’s work to free up more spectrum for mobile broadband and other uses and efforts to keep the Internet free from government control. Additionally, he outlined ongoing efforts to modernize the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), including the recent unanimous House approval of the FCC Consolidated Reporting Act. Walden also touched on the subcommittee’s agenda for the fall and announced an October hearing on the future of copper networks.
Walden on the Internet, the Economy and Jobs
“This spirit of innovation that allowed the U.S. to bring the Internet to the world and made us the world leader in wireless continues to fuel our companies and entrepreneurs. Internet technology is now bringing innovation to parts of our lives we never imagined would be connected… As companies shift to connecting more and more everyday devices to our networks, one data forecast estimates that this so-called ‘Internet of Things’ could create net profits of $14.4 trillion of value over the next ten years. That’s trillion with a ‘T’…That’s why I’ve made it a goal during the last two Congresses to work to deregulate and provide industry with the tools that it needs to fuel investment and job creation.”
Walden on the Communications and Technology Industry
“Despite the struggling economy, there are still bright spots. The communications sector is one of those spots. The sector continues to grow, to innovate, and to invest in America. … This spirit of innovation that allowed the U.S. to bring the Internet to the world and made us the world leader in wireless continues to fuel our companies and entrepreneurs. Internet technology is now bringing innovation to parts of our lives we never imagined would be connected. … We must recognize that the Internet and mobility are the frontiers on which countries are now vying for economic supremacy; we must ensure that American companies have the freedom to bring new and novel technologies to market; and we must provide a deregulatory environment in which innovation can thrive.”
Walden on International Attempts to Control the Internet
“As many of you know, over the last few years the international community has been taking steps to insert the prying fingers of government into the Internet. They want to subvert the Internet for their own purposes, but we cannot allow these efforts to succeed. … Under the multi-stakeholder governance model, non-regulatory institutions manage and operate the Internet by developing best practices with public and private sector input.
“Yet at the World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT) in Dubai last December, a number of nations sought to subject the Internet to international regulation. … This development was not unanticipated and the work of these opponents of the Internet freedom is unlikely to abate. Last Congress the House and Senate unanimously passed a ‘sense of the Congress’ supporting the Internet as it is today. This Congress, the House has passed a bill by a vote of 414-0 to make this the law of the land. Unfortunately, our colleagues in the Senate have not seen fit to give this unanimous House bill its day in the Senate. I look forward to their consideration of this important policy.”
Walden on Modernizing the FCC for the Innovation Era
“In addition to sensible and modern regulations, the industry deserves the most efficient and transparent regulatory agency possible. While practices have improved, there is no guarantee that future administrations won’t backslide to the old ways—only a statute can ensure good process from commission to commission. To that end, we have worked to implement reforms to the processes of the Federal Communications Commission. The Consolidated Reporting Act of 2013 eliminates outdated reports, such as the telegraph competition report, and consolidates several individual FCC reports into one comprehensive marketplace evaluation that allows the industry, consumers and Congress to better assess competition in the communications sector and reduces the paper work burdens on the agency. This bill passed the House of Representatives last week with overwhelming support— another unanimous vote: 415-0. Like our unanimous Internet governance bill, I urge our colleagues on the other side of the dome to pass this bill and to help improve the function and efficiency of a key sector of our government.”
Walden on the FCC Process Reform Act
“We are also continuing our work on other FCC process reforms; timelines for filing of comments and replies, rules to allow sufficient time for the public to review comments, statistical reports and ex parte contacts submitted to the commission, and shot clocks for completion of proceedings and cost-benefit analyses and findings of market failure before agency intervention in the market place. These will help create the kind of predictable and consistent practices that ensure the agency is productive in carrying out its responsibilities. We’ve worked with all of the stakeholders, held multiple hearings, and are now working with our colleagues in a bi-partisan approach to see if we can agree on legislation to get this done sometime this fall.”
