Doyle as House Communications Subcommittee Ranking Member Eyes Upholding FCC Rules
Rep. Mike Doyle, D-Pa., will lead Democrats on the House Communications Subcommittee this Congress, replacing longtime ranking member Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif. Commerce Committee Democrats approved Doyle’s position by voice vote Thursday during a closed-door meeting in the Rayburn House Office Building that lasted about 50 minutes. Doyle told us he wants to prevent the incoming Republican FCC from rolling back regulations from recent years. He confirmed he received the position in a unanimous voice vote.
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“We’re going to be looking to protect the gains that we made in the open internet order,” Doyle said in an interview Thursday. “We’re going to continue to fight for competitive telecommunications policies. That’s going to be very important. Those are big issues, and we don’t want to move backward from that.”
Doyle has backed business data services overhaul for years and said it’s a disappointment that the FCC didn't manage to move forward on such a revamp in 2016. “It seems like it’s been a lifetime battle for me,” Doyle said. “And we came so close.”
Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., was named the subcommittee’s chairwoman last week. “I’m sure there are going to be some things we can work on,” Doyle said of possible bipartisanship.
Eshoo didn't seek the position and will remain a subcommittee member. “Senior members like myself must consider the best interest of our Party and our need to develop leaders for the future,” Eshoo said in a statement. “In other words, it’s time to walk my talk. I therefore am not seeking to be re-elected Ranking Member of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee. Instead, I’m asking to retain a seat on the Subcommittee and to hopefully join the Health Subcommittee where I worked for many years.”
Eshoo declined comment on her decision as she was leaving the meeting. “The press release says everything,” she told us.