1. Washington Update: Who are the people and issues to watch in 2005 Wendy Wigen Sue Fratkin Net@EDU Annual Meeting Tempe, AZ February 6-8, 2005

2. Copyright Wendy Wigen and Sue Fratkin, 2005.This work is the intellectual property of the authors. Permission is granted for this material to be shared for non-commercial, educational purposes, provided that this copyright statement appears on the reproduced materials and notice is given that the copying is by permission of the authors. To disseminate otherwise or to republish requires written permission from the authors.

3.  Federal Communications Commission  Chairman Michael Powell  Issues to watch  Congressional Committees  People  Priority Issues  Federal Funding

4. “In the very near future, there will be only the most modest of differences among telecom providers… there is no triple play (voice, data, video), there is just one play—data.” Chairman Michael Powell (January, 2005)

5. Where communications are going… …the Law will follow voicedatavideo wired internationallong distancelocal wireless Packet-based Ubiquitous Communication

6. The FCC after Powell Some predict: New focus from the White House on technology and telecommunications Debate moving to broadband/VoIP Policy What is certain: New Chairman and a new Commissioner

7. Top Candidates Commissioner Kevin Martin Former Texas Public Utility Commissioner Becky Klein Michael Gallagher

8. Top Issues at the FCC Intercarrier Compensation and the Universal Service Fund “What does Universal Service mean in the 21 st Century?” Commissioner Copps Intercarrier Compensation Forum (ICF) Plan http://www2.sprint.com/mr/topic.do?topicId=180 http://www2.sprint.com/mr/topic.do?topicId=180 Move to flat rate based on number and/or connection Move to regulatory parity in both collection and distribution – i.e. wireless receive funds to extend into rural areas

9. Top FCC Issues Wireless: more spectrum, licensed and unlicensed available for wireless broadband access Digital TV Transition Government Spectrum Relocation (NTIA) Up to 15 VoIP proceedings expected Watching Brand X

10. Senate Senate Commerce Committee: Chairman: Senator Stevens Telecommunications Rewrite Senate Judiciary: Subcommittee Chair: Senator Hatch Copyright Patriot Act

11. House: People and Issues House Commerce Committee: Chairman Rep. Barton Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Upton Digital TV transition $$$ Telecom Reform (USF)

12. The House House Science Committee Chairman Rep. Boehlert Research Subcommittee: Rep. Inglis House Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Sensenbrenner House Appropriations Committee Chairman Rep. Lewis HUD/VA/NSF, NASA, EPA subcommittee gone

13. The Senate Senate Commerce Committee Communications Subcommittee gone Science and Technology Subcommittee leadership? Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Senator Cochran HUD/VA/NSF, NASA, EPA subcommitee?

14. EDUCAUSE Federal Policy Program www.educause.edu/policy