Rep. Buyer: Telecom Panel's Newest Addition Favored By BOCs

Among the first things Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas), the new chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, did after ascending to the post previously occupied by Rep. Billy Tauzin (R-La.) was appoint Rep. Steve Buyer (R- Ind.) to the subcommittee on telecommunications and the Internet.

Buyer is a lawmaker who has views closely paralleling those of Barton: He is a long-time supporter of the Bell Operating Companies (BOCs) -- which means he favors loosening the regulatory reins that now constrain the BOCs.

"The telecommunications industry faces enormous and exciting challenges, all of which will test the bounds of science and government," Buyer said March 4 in prepared statement acknowledging his subcommittee appointment. "I am pleased that the committee members looked to me to help create more competition, less regulation and lower costs to help grow Indiana's schools, businesses and families."

Buyer's plan for growing schools, businesses and families in Indiana appears to be getting exclusive financial assistance from the BOCs, with virtually nothing coming from competitive carriers. Of the $18,000 he has already garnered during the current 2003-2004 cycle, some $14,500 of it came directly from BOC-backed Political Action Committees (PACs), according to Federal Election Commission data. And considering that Buyer's home state of Indiana is served by SBC Communications, it should come as no surprise to learn that SBC is one of Buyer's biggest fans. The Baby Bell's PAC topped all other Bell PACs in contributions given thus far in the current cycle to the Indiana Republican. It has given the congressman $10,000 this cycle.

In fairness to Buyer, if this were the end of the reporting cycle, the $14,500 in telco PAC donations collected by him would be relatively small potatoes. But this is not the end of the cycle. It's only a bit beyond the halfway point. In fact, as telco PAC contributions go, Buyer now is keeping pace with Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.), who is routinely ranked each year atop the list of the communications industry's PAC money recipients. During the previous cycle, communications PACs gave Dingell more than $163,000.

Telco PAC Donations To Buyer During 2003-2004 Cycle
Telephone Utilities     $14,500
BellSouth Corp          $2,500
SBC Communications      $10,000
US Telecom Assn         $1,000
Verizon Communications  $1,000
Numbers are based on data released by the FEC on March 1, 2004

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