Predictable midterm election results will wreak havoc on the telecom space-for better or worse, depending on one's perspective--which will take a little time to sort out. One obvious impact was the defeat of veteran telecom expert Rep. Rick Boucher of Virginia, a regulation proponent who also voiced support for the Comcast (Nasdaq: CMCSA)-NBC Universal merger.
Over his nearly 30 years in office, Boucher had gained power as chairman of the House Communications, Technology and Internet subcommittee where he supported net neutrality and co-sponsored Universal Service Fund changes that included targeting money for broadband expansion. Boucher's defeat was noted by media reform group Public Knowledge which hailed him as "one of the most moderate and thoughtful voices on communications and intellectual property policy."
Election results aside, broadcaster Allbritton has filed comments with the FCC favoring net neutrality as a way to foster greater competition and calling FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski's "third way" plan to regulate the Internet "a reasoned and enforceable framework that will prevent abuses on wired and mobile Internet."
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