The Commissioner has always had an open-door policy and I applaud her for that. I look forward to hearing more from the Commissioner about her positions on these issues. I am very disturbed by the Commission's delay in properly using the authority granted to it under Section 706 of the Telecommunications Act. I authored Section 706 during the crafting of the Act to provide deregulatory incentives so that telecommunications firms would invest in broadband technologies. I will not allow Section 706 to be dismantled through FCC inaction.
Broadband access is as important to our small businesses in Montana as water is to agriculture.
The Communications Subcommittee will be holding a hearing on broadband deployment and Section 706 next Tuesday and I expect it will be one of the most important hearings of the year. I am also very concerned about the Commission's recent actions on low power radio. I remain to be convinced that the concerns about interference with existing broadcasters have been properly addressed. I should note that public radio has been among the most vocal critics of this proposal. Instead of essentially legalizing pirate radio in the guise of serving some vague public interest goal, the Commission should be working with nonprofits to take advantage of new technologies.