Get Ready for Rockefeller

The Senate Commerce Committee is prepping for a new chairman. Word this week is that Sen. John Rockefeller, D-W.V., will replace Hawaii Democrat Daniel Inouye.

A little history lesson: Inouye became chair when the Democrats took Congress in 2006 (has it really been two years already??). Prior to that, now-felon Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, headed the committee for years. Inouye and Stevens were good friends and if memory serves, they often went along with each others’ policies, which created little intellectual tension.

The Commerce Committee hasn’t made much news on the tech front this past year; things have stayed pretty quiet under Inouye – as opposed to the net neutrality bustle under Stevens, which inadvertently highlighted his glaring lack of tech savvy (“The Internet is a series of tubes!”).

Jump to the present and consider a Rockefeller-led committee. He ought to liven things up if for no other reason than he’ll tick off people who want a regulations-free government (but who would probably line up for a bailout without a second thought). He’s said to be passionate about broadband deployment and privacy concerns, among other issues. He also has supported net neutrality legislation and there’s nothing to indicate that would have changed. Indeed, net neutrality is the big technology topic that is going to rise again like an uncooperative zombie.

If we’re lucky, Rockefeller will help settle net neutrality in such a way that it serves the industry and users well for the next 10-15 years (any longer than that and you’re looking at regulating technology that doesn’t even exist and that could be hampered by outdated laws.). That’s optimistic, I know. Net neutrality is contentious. But GovTrack classifies Rockefeller as a moderate Democrat, and certainly a level head is needed for wading through the net neutrality debates.

That’s the crux of the matter, too. Lawmakers and industry leaders must reach a compromise on net neutrality or risk getting mired in back-and-forth and tabled arguments that inhibit much-needed broadband deployment. Consumers need to be protected from unethical business practices, but businesses need to have safeguards against unethical users as well. I sense that Rockefeller understands those nuances and I hope he can help push Congress toward middle ground that works for as many parties as possible.

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