In the game of musical chairs coming out of the 2008 elections, speculation is turning to what role Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) will play on telecommunications policy.
Waxman was elected chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and is expected to emphasize government accountability and pursue a "transparency agenda." A report soon to be issued on the FCC's decision-making process under current FCC Chairman Kevin Martin is expected to highlight Waxman's penchant for accountability.
While Waxman has a "spotty record" of attending high-tech oriented hearings, he supports network neutrality and is expected to work with the incoming administration to craft legislation in that area.
Meanwhile, ousted chairman Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) may need other work to keep busy. Speculation is high that Dingell may want a larger role on the subcommittees for Telecommunications and the Internet, lead in the last Congress by Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.).
For more:
- Congress Daily via Govexec.com tunes in Waxman push.
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