Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) said on Wednesday that he supports efforts by House Commerce Committee Chairman Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) and Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) to update the Communications Act.
Upton and Walden recently announced they would work to modernize the Communications Act, which was signed into law during the Great Depression and was last updated 18 years ago.
“I strongly support a broad review and update of our communications laws, and applaud (Tuesday’s) announcement by Chairmen Upton and Walden,” Scalise said.
Scalise added, however, that the review shouldn’t serve as a distraction for the multi-year review of video policies already carried out by the subcommittee.
“It is abundantly clear from the members and witnesses at committee hearings that the 1992 Cable Act was written for a different era, and technological advancements in this competitive marketplace have rendered the law obsolete,” Scalise said. “I look forward to working with Chairmen Upton and Walden and [House Commerce Committee Ranking Member Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.)] to promote consumer choice and economic growth at every available opportunity in this new age.”
In his announcement, Upton said the mult-year effort would examine communications laws and modernize them to address new challenges brought on by the Internet era.