Tauzin to Step Down from Key Congressional Committee Covering Telecom

Citing health issues, W.J. "Billy" Tauzin (R-LA) will step down from his position as Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees telecommunications related issues. In recent years, Tauzin has been an outspoken critic of the FCC and its decision to allow state commission to set rates for unbundled network element (UNE). In 2002, he sponsored the Tauzin-Dingell Broadband Legislation (H.R. 1542), which was widely seen as favoring the Regional Bell Operating Companies. The U.S. House of Representatives voted 273 to 157 to approve the legislation, but the U.S. Senate never acted on the bill and it was never signed into law. http://www.house.gov