I
103D CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1613
To improve coordination in the formulation of telecommunications policy
within the executive branch, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
APRIL 1, 1993
Mrs. COLLINS of Illinois introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on Energy and Commerce
A BILL
To improve coordination in the formulation of telecommuni-
cations policy within the executive branch, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SHORT TITLE
SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Tele-
communications Policy Coordination Act of 1993’’.
DEFINITIONS
SEC. 2. For purposes of this Act:
(1) The term ‘‘Committee’’ means the Advisory
Committee on Telecommunications Policy estab-
lished under section 10.
(2) The term ‘‘Office’’ means the Office of
Telecommunications Policy established in section 3.
(3) The term ‘‘Deputy Director’’ means the
Deputy Director of the Office appointed under sec-
tion 5(b).
(4) The term ‘‘Director’’ means the Director of
the Office appointed under section 5(a).
ESTABLISHMENT
SEC. 3. There is hereby established in the Executive
Office of the President the Office of Telecommunications
Policy.
FUNCTIONS
SEC. 4. (a) The Office, acting through the Director,
shall—
(1) take such action as may be necessary to
provide for the preparation of national telecommuni-
cations policy options;
(2) serve as the principal advisor to the Presi-
dent in matters relating to telecommunications is-
sues and policies;
(3) act as the arbiter of disputes and dif-
ferences which may arise between or among Govern-
ment agencies in connection with the development
and implementation of national telecommunications
policies;
(4) communicate the views of Government
agencies, as well as the views of the President, with
respect to telecommunications matters to the Fed-
eral Communications Commission, and communicate
the views of the President and Government agencies
(other than the Commission) to the Congress;
(5) monitor the development of new tele-
communications technologies, study the effects of
new telecommunications facilities, services, and sys-
tems, and make recommendations to the President
and to the Congress with respect to the introduction
of new technologies into the national economy; and
(6) perform such other functions vested in the
President relating to telecommunications as the
President may delegate to the Office.
(b) The authority of the Office under this Act shall
not affect the authority of the Federal Communications
Commission under the Communications Act of 1934 or the
Satellite Communications Act of 1962.
(c) The functions of the Office under subsection
(a)(3) and (4), and the corresponding obligations of other
agencies affected thereunder, shall be in accordance with
regulations which the President shall prescribe.
DIRECTOR AND STAFF; ORGANIZATION OF OFFICE
SEC. 5. (a) The head of the Office shall be the Direc-
tor, who shall be appointed by the President, by and with
AUTHORITY AND FUNCTIONS OF DIRECTOR
SEC. 6. (a) The Director shall exercise all the execu-
tive and administrative functions of the Office.
(b) The Director—
(1) may obtain services as authorized in section
3109 of title 5, United States Code, at rates not to
exceed the daily rate prescribed for GS–18 of the
General Schedule under section 5332 of title 5,
United States Code, for persons employed intermit-
tently in Federal Government service;
(2) may delegate to the Deputy Director, or to
any other employee of the Office, any authority of
the Director established in this Act;
(3) shall prescribe such rules as may be nec-
essary to carry out the provisions of this Act;
(4) shall distribute business among any person-
nel appointed under section 5(c)(2), and among any
bureaus, divisions, or offices established under sec-
tion 5(d);
(5) shall administer the use and expenditure of
funds available to the Office;
(6) shall coordinate and organize the work of
the Office in order to promote prompt and efficient
disposition of all matters within the jurisdiction of
the Office; and
(7) shall assure appropriate consumer represen-
tation in connection with the development of policy
by the Office.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
SEC. 7. (a) The Director shall establish an advisory
committee to be known as the Advisory Committee on
Telecommunications Policy.
(b) The Committee shall consist of members ap-
pointed by the Director from the general public, including
representatives of—
(1) various segments of the telecommunications
industry,
(2) labor organizations involved in such indus-
try, and
(3) public interest and consumer organizations.
(c) The Committee shall provide advice and rec-
ommendations to the Director on matters referred to it
by Director and on such other matters relating to the
functions of the Director as it considers appropriate. Con-
sistent with otherwise applicable law, the Committee may
make public any advice or recommendations it has pro-
vided to the Director under this subsection.
ANNUAL REPORTS; FCC REPORTS
SEC. 8. (a) The Director shall, not later than the
15th day of February following the end of each fiscal year,
commencing with the first complete fiscal year following
the effective date provided for in section 9, make a report
to the President for submission to the Congress relating
to the activities of the Office during the preceding fiscal
year.
(b) Each report made by the Director under sub-
section (a) shall—
(1) describe actions taken by the Office in con-
nection with the preparation of national tele-
communications policies in accordance with section
4(1);
(2) identify and analyze emerging trends in
telecommunications; and
(3) include such other information as the Direc-
tor considers appropriate.
(c) In any case in which the Office submits views to
the Federal Communications Commission under section
4(a)(4) and the Commission takes any final action after
such submittal which is inconsistent with such views, the
Commission shall, within twenty days of such final action
is taken, submit a report to the President and to the Con-
gress setting forth the reasons therefor.
EFFECTIVE DATE
SEC. 9. The provisions of this Act shall take effect
ninety days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
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