[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 76 (Wednesday, May 21, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1041]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            TRIENNIAL REVIEW

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                           HON. BOBBY L. RUSH

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 21, 2003

  Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, yesterday marked the third month anniversary 
since the Federal communications Commission, FCC, voted to approve its 
controversial Triennial Review decision and still no written order has 
been issued by the Commission. I think many of us in this Chamber find 
it incredible that our troops invaded Iraq and ousted Saddam Hussein in 
less time than it takes for the FCC to write an order on which it has 
already agreed. This delay leaves an important segment of our economy 
and its employees in legal and economic limbo.
  Mr. Speaker, the Triennial Review offered the FCC the unique 
opportunity to boost the nation's economy and not only save jobs--but 
create jobs as well. The Commission, however, responded to the 
challenge by issuing a ruling that is contradictory--largely 
deregulating broadband on one hand while, on the other, continuing the 
enormous regulatory burden of requiring large local phone companies to 
lease their lines at below cost rates to competitors.
  In conclusion, the FCC has succeeded in creating uncertainty in the 
marketplace, and uncertainty on Wall Street typically converts to 
financial disaster. The order that is now being written at the FCC will 
consist of several hundred pages of regulatory detail. And as we know 
when dealing with the Federal bureaucracy, the devil is most definitely 
in the detail. I urge the Commission and its staff to finish its work 
on the Triennial Review order as quickly as possible so we can begin 
the tedious legal process of examining these details. Let us not forget 
that the jobs of thousands of hard working men and women, and the 
renewed health of our Nation's economy, are at stake.

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