The House Energy and Commerce Committee has scheduled a markup this week to consider H.R. 3301, the North American Energy Infrastructure Act, H.R. 4342, the Domain Openness Through Continued Oversight Matters (DOTCOM) Act, and legislation to reauthorize the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act. The committee will convene for opening statements only on Wednesday, May 7, 2014, at 4:00 p.m. in room 2123 of the Rayburn House Office Building. The committee will reconvene in the same room on Thursday, May 8, at 10:00 a.m. to consider the legislation.
“Next week we will continue our efforts to modernize government for the innovation era as we consider a package of bills to address emerging challenges and opportunities," said committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI). “The bipartisan North American Energy Infrastructure Act, a critical part of our effort to construct the Architecture of Abundance, will update the approval process for cross-border energy projects so we can better utilize our continent’s growing energy resources. The DOTCOM Act will help protect the future of the Internet by ensuring responsible oversight of the Domain Name System. Additionally, we will vote on legislation to reauthorize the satellite television law, which is critical to ensuring that Americans who rely on satellite television services continue to receive the content of their choosing."
H.R. 3301, the North American Energy Infrastructure Act, authored by Upton and Rep. Gene Green (D-TX), would modernize the cross-boundary permitting process for oil pipelines, natural gas pipelines, and electric transmission lines, replacing the current Presidential Permit process created by a series of executive orders. H.R. 3301 is a critical component of the architecture of abundance and will facilitate the construction of new job-creating energy infrastructure projects needed to transport North America’s increasing energy supplies.
H.R. 4342, the Domain Openness Through Continued Oversight Matters (DOTCOM) Act, authored by Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL), was drafted in response to the Obama administration’s proposal regarding the future of the Internet. The proposal instructs the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to explore ways to remove the United States from its oversight role of the Domain Name System (DNS) and replace it with a different multistakeholder governance model. H.R. 4342 would direct the Government Accountability Office to study the proposed changes and present a non-partisan evaluation before the administration may take action to modify the current DNS.
H.R. ___, the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act, Reauthorization, authored by Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR), would reauthorize STELA for five years and ensure that 1.5 million subscribers in hard-to-reach areas continue to receive broadcast content via their chosen satellite provider. The legislation includes limitations on joint retransmission consent negotiations in conjunction with limitations on FCC action on broadcaster shared services arrangements, the elimination of the “sweeps" week prohibition on signal change, and the elimination of the set-top box integration ban.
Electronic copies of the legislation can be found on the Energy and Commerce Committee’s website here. A background memo, amendments, and votes will be available at the same link as they are posted.
