Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) reentered the telecom spotlight Tues., backing a business group抯 campaign urging the Senate to pass the telecom reform bill (HR-5252) before mid-term elections. Senators 搉eed to hear from consumers, and we抮e going to try and get that message out,?Rush told us. 揟his is just the advance guard.?He said he and other supporters plan to meet with senators to talk up the bill this week. A 搑esounding, almost earth-shattering?groundswell of support exists for more competition in video services, Rush told leaders of about 100 telecom manufacturing, networking and high-tech companies at a Tues. briefing. HR-5252 would make it easier for telcos to enter video markets and cable prices are so 損rofound?in his district that he was willing to take the 搑isk?of backing the House bill after Commerce Committee Ranking Member John Dingell (D-Mich.) withdrew his support when negotiations broke down with Chmn. Joe Barton (R-Tex.), Rush said. nnBut HR-5252's future is unclear. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) has a hold on the measure, meaning a cloture petition must be filed to override his objection. A cloture petition requires a 2-day waiting period to 搑ipen,?followed by 30 hours of debate before a vote. If the Senate overrides Wyden抯 objection, a 2nd cloture petition would have to be filed for consideration of the bill, meaning another 2-day waiting period and 30 more hours of debate. It will be very difficult to find so much floor time the next 2-1/2 weeks, with the Senate expected to adjourn Oct. 6, Senate sources said. 揑t is still possible,?Senate Commerce Committee Staff Dir. Lisa Sutherland said: 揑 don抰 give up on my boss ever.?But Commerce Chmn. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) faces considerable hurdles getting the bill through before elections.
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