Congressional Forecast: Telecom Policy Storm Brewing

Four influential Democrats announced plans late last month to reopen the 1934 Communications Act for the first time in 14 years, immediately igniting a frenzy in Washington. The last time Congress ventured down this path, in 2006, an open battle ensued over a massive bill that swelled with pet provisions; the struggle finally ended amid rancor and finger-pointing. Along the way, telecom firms contributed more than $6 million to lawmakers and spent nearly $110 million on lobbying during the 2006 election cycle, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Telecom experts say the stage is being set for a legislative encore that could stretch well beyond 2011 and is poised to bring back the political daggers and big-money lobbying. "This basically will pick up where Congress left off in 2006," a veteran lobbyist said.