[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 134 (Thursday, September 22, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: September 22, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
          HOLLINGS-DANFORTH TELECOMMUNICATIONS BILL (S. 1822)

  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, it is unfortunate that Senator Hollings 
declared the telecommunications issue dead for this year. Many of my 
colleagues know that in the recent weeks both my staff and Senator 
Hollings' staff have tried to iron out many contentious issues. 
Yesterday, we presented Senator Hollings' staff with a specific 
proposal to make the bill less regulatory and more market-based. 
Although we did not hear back before Senator Hollings made his 
announcement, it is now apparent that those talks have failed.
  It seems to me that S. 1822's major problems included its approach to 
universal service, its excessive regulation, its protectionist domestic 
content provisions, and its outlandish, if not unconstitutional, 5 
percent set-aside requirements. And these were only a handful of the 
problems. With so little time, these issues needed to be resolved 
before the bill reached the floor.
  Opposition to S. 1822 grew for many reasons. It increased local phone 
bills, government regulation, and stifled innovation. It was opposed by 
major national groups that included the National Governors Association, 
U.S. Conference of Mayors, National League of Mayors, and by many 
industry groups. With so little time, and over 250 differences between 
the House and Senate bills, it would have been a major feat to enact 
this legislation this year.
  No doubt about it, this is an important issue. The communications 
industry is one our Nation's fastest growing and most vibrant 
industries. The best thing we could do for it is to adopt policies that 
allow competition, not government, to regulate it.
  With that said, it is clear that the status quo is no longer 
acceptable. Of course, I have thought that for nearly a decade. 
Congress must assert its authority, and quickly, to resolve this issue. 
I am confident that a strong bipartisan proposal can be crafted and 
enacted into law early next year.

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