WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Ranking Member on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today made the following statement after it was announced that the Senate Commerce Committee and the House Energy and Commerce Committee would begin a process to update the Telecommunications Act of 1996:

“Congressional action to update the Communications Act is a clear signal to Chairman Genachowski to stand down on his recently announced plans to reclassify broadband services. Instead of an antiquated regulatory scheme imposed by the FCC, Congress will work to develop a legal and regulatory framework appropriate for our modern communications market.  Our nation has experienced robust investment and innovation in the telecommunications sector, and is a global leader in online content and applications because our country does not have a burdensome regulatory environment.  Congress is stepping in to address this issue because without our intervention, the FCC’s proposed regulations could stifle future investment in broadband services.  I look forward to being an active participant as we move forward on crafting a bipartisan update to the Communications Act.”

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