thank you for conducting this hearing and abel, chairman genachowski -- hearing and welcome, genachowski. we have seen far more of our fair share of plants before us that promised us the sun, moon, stars, and celestial bodies seen and unseen. this plan promises to enhance america possibility to improve life choices of people. i may sound skeptical but i am not. much of this sounds good on paper and certainly makes for a good and polished sound bite. i understand the power of new communication technologies and the importance of innovation. [inaudible] the promise of widespread access is important to our nation. the unique opportunity we are presented with at this moment is unprecedented and i want to ensure that congress and the fcc step up to the plate to serve the best interests of the american people. we will not get too many bites at this apple. if we did not exit k -- will miss out on a huge opportunity while setting back the short-term and long-term technology needs of the american people. i am keenly interested in hearing the commission's perspectives, especially on the adoption of

have you gotten an answer from chairman genachowski on that? >> guest: no end in all fairness he needs some time to answer this letter. i think we told them arch 22. but i think he's going to be before the telecommunications and internet subcommittee very soon. and so i'll be able to ask him directly if he intends to answer my letter and perhaps i can ask them to also answer some of the questions that were in the letter, namely why did he delay? how much did it cost? and who were the people that developed as planned and tell the american taxpayers who they are. >> host: commerce ministers, throughout several interviews on "the communicators" we've heard about the spectrum and chairman genachowski has told us that there's a coming shortage of spectrum and we talked with marty cooper, the founder of the cell phone who said that there's not a shortage of spec or, but it needs to be used more efficiently. where do you stand on the issue of spectrum and how to develop more or find more space? >> guest: well, i think marty is absolutely correct. ther

chairman genachowski last week specifically said that broadband plan recommended ruby a voluntary planiercer tv stations could voluntary at the spectrum and share in the proceeds of option of that spectrum. obviously that would take legislation, but just to clarify that because there were years early on by the broadcasters at the fcc would in fact kind of involuntarily reclaim a lot of that spectrum. >> guest: thank you, paul for clarifying that. i don't think there's anything wrong with redistributing the spec, but to believe that's going to solve this problem is naÏve. the benefits, not the standing peter will curse me a little bit, the benefit of the ability to send various kinds of data between a is going to be enormous. we've only scratched the surface. there's so much that can be done and i hope we get to talk about that later. but we're going to need much more than you can get by just picking up 50 or 100 or 500 megahertz by transferring it from broadcasters to matter how you do that. >> not to get into too many of the technical details because not of those viewers are engineers

well, chairman genachowski -- and, by the way, i ought to tell you that there's nothing wrong with what the fcc, they've put a lot of work into this. the plan is a good plan. but they should not give the impression that it's going to solve the problem. the, if, in fact, we do require 40 times more spectrum for telecommunications in the next ten years, then that comes out to a thousand gigahertz. well, there are or only three gigahertz of spectrum that are useful for our kind of things, so a 30 times improvement. where are we going to find that? it just doesn't exist. new technology is the only way. >> host: why do you say that only three gigahertz is useful for cellular technology? >> guest: well, all it's useful for telecommunications in general. when you go up above three gigahertz or so, all of a sudden you run into a few problems like rain interference and the antennas get to be tiny and small, and pretty soon it's very hard to get energy to go through the air. so we, the useful part of the radio spectrum just in my lifetime has increased considerably. and when i started work in 195

chairman genachowski. how important do you believe broadband is to modernize our nation's smart grid? >> i think it is essential. i think congress was wise in instructing us to prepare a broadband plan and ask us to look at the relationship between broadband and energy, health care, education, there is a section in the plan, as you know, but it will be critical to integrate broadband with our smart grid, both critical and efficient. and, ultimately, result in very significant savings and benefits for the country. >> can you expand on the point made in the plan, about the importance of ensuring that consumers have greater access to information about their electricity usage and why is it important, what are the barriers to providing that access. >> there is terrific innovation going on in the phase with products, that help consumers visualize their energy use and a lot of evidence that that translates directly into energy savings. many of those technologies rely on broadband connectivity and, often, wireless

genachowski, how might these entities be impacted by this merger? and how much -- >> we will leave that to go live to the state department daily press briefing. we're expecting to more about a travel warning for parts of mexico. this was issued following the murder center of two americans. >> live coverage now on c-span2. >> european high representative catherine ashton as well as quartet representative tony blair to discuss efforts to promote middle east peace. the secretary will also meet with senior russian official to discuss progress on the success or agreement to start a cooperation on nonproliferation, counterterrorism and regional security issues. and the work of the bilateral presidential commission. she will depart washington on wednesday. tomorrow, says the secretary of state for population refugees and migration, eric schwartz, will present the keynote speech of the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the refugee act of 1980 at georgetown university's student center. his speech will honor the durability of the landmark 1980 legislatio

thank you for conducting this hearing and abel, chairman genachowski -- hearing and welcome, genachowskiave seen far more of our fair share of plants before us that promised us the sun, moon, stars, and celestial bodies seen and unseen. this plan promises to enhance america possibility to improve life choices of people. i may sound skeptical but i am not. much of this sounds good on paper and certainly makes for a good and polished sound bite. i understand the power of new communication technologies and the importance of innovation. [inaudible] the promise of widespread access is important to our nation. the unique opportunity we are presented with at this moment is unprecedented and i want to ensure that congress and the fcc step up to the plate to serve the best interests of the american people. we will not get too many bites at this apple. if we did not exit k -- to execute this thoughtfully, we will miss out on a huge opportunity while setting back the short-term and long-term technology needs of the american people. i am keenly interested in hearing the commission's perspectives, es

thank you for conducting this hearing and abel, chairman genachowski -- hearing and welcome, genachowski have seen far more of our fair share of plants before us that promised us the sun, moon, stars, and celestial bodies seen and unseen. this plan promises to enhance america possibility to improve life choices of people. i may sound skeptical but i am not. much of this sounds good on paper and certainly makes for a good and polished sound bite. i understand the power of new communication technologies and the importance of innovation. [inaudible] the promise of widespread access is important to our nation. the unique opportunity we are presented with at this moment is unprecedented and i want to ensure that congress and the fcc step up to the plate to serve the best interests of the american people. we will not get too many bites at this apple. if we did not exit k -- to execute this thoughtfully, we will miss out on a huge opportunity while setting back the short-term and long-term technology needs of the american people. i am keenly interested in hearing the commission's perspectives,

under the leadership of chairman genachowski and the hard work of the fcc team and and the most opennd transparent process i have witnessed, we have a plan with clear objectives aimed at insuring everybody has an equal opportunity in this new digital age the matter who they are, where they live, or their particular circumstances. foremost amongst our charges is a digital inclusion. everybody must have access to this technology to participate in 21st century life. you will not get a job without it. you cannot be well educated without it. you cannot be engaged citizen without it. america cannot afford to have a digital divide between those living in big cities and rural areas or tribal lands. broadband must leave no american behind including the original americans, native americans. i encourage the team that this works for them and i am pleased by the recommendations that have been delivered. these are people that asked nothing more than an equal shot at being fully productive citizens. broadband can make that so much more achievable. my written testimony elaborate on these points. i a

among those speaking, chairman of the sec, julius genachowski. live at 1:00 p.m.assador to the u.s. will speak later today on rebuilding afghanistan and building long- term institutions there appeared live at 5:30 p.m. eastern. >> this weekend, john dean is our guest on "book tv's" "in- depth." author of 10 books, including updated edition of "blind ambition." sunday, live at noon eastern on c-span2's "book tv." >> throughout april, see the wonders of c-span's student camp video documentary competition. middle and high school students from 45 states it minute videos on one of the country's greatest strengths or challenges the country is facing. what to the top of videos every morning at c-span at 6:50 a.m. eastern just before "washington journal." at 8:30 a m. during the program, meet the students and for a preview of all of the winners visit studentcam.org. >> "washington journal" continues. host: with us is gil kerlikowske, director of office of drug control strategy. what is the big problem these days? reisch guest: now we are watching closely prescription drug

in presenting this plan today chairman genachowski walks in all-american path totally in keeping with how the generations who came before us built this country. at last we begin to walk the broadband walk. thank you. >> commissioner mcdowell? >> thank you, mr. chairman. first, to the many hard-working members of the broadband plan team. who have spent countless hours away from your loved ones, absorbing terabytes of information over these many months. if you remember nothing else i say today, please remember these few words. thank you for your efforts. you have floated ideas and taken some arrows. your blood, sweat, toil, and tears and more often than not laughter, at least with me, are appreciated. your commitment, energy, and sense of mission have not gone unnoticed. while you've had to give up your personal lives including holidays with your families, i imagine that this st. patrick's day will be one to remember. [laughter] >> even if you're not irish. [laughter] >> second, we should be mindful that blair and his team are presenting this plan to congress during a tumultuous time an

. >> i ask unanimous consent that the response that chairman genachowski said to me about the creationof the plan be entered in the record. >> without objection. . spent $20 million to develop this plan and it took about one year. that is about $50,000 per day. when we develop the 1996 telecommunications bill we did not have a plan and later on there was some talk read your former chairman, let me read his speech in 1999. "the fertile fields of an invasion across the spectrum are blooming because we had taken eight deregulatory competitive approach to our structure, especially the internet." i think with those statements from your predecessor, do you agree? >> yes, i do. >> they remain valid today? >> making sure that we have policies that unleash investment and encouraged innovation -- >> policies from the government? >> whether it is a universal service funds there are policies that the government needs to be involved in. the question is what kind of climate and policy can make sure we have that promote investment, innovation, and promote competition. >> ok. you have indicated this i

chairman genachowski, one of the question. on program access rules, what has changed in that regard? >> i'm not sure what you're getting at, senator. what is change in terms of -- >> anything has terms change in terms of access will? >> the goal of access rules i believe remains as important as it was. we've been doing the program access rules to make sure there is effective as possible. a couple of months ago, we close the so-called terrestrial loophole so that the rules could work more effectively for competitors and will continue to look at ways to make sure that rules designed to promote competition actually promote competition in practice. >> because in this instance, that will become even exponentially greater. i'm in, in terms of magnifying the problem in competition and making sure that there is their competition to negotiate fair deals, or allowing their own programs that they have developed. to the offer to nonaffiliated stations. thank you. >> thank you, senator snowe. senator thune? >> thank you, mr. chairman. and

sec chairman julius genachowski testified about the national broadband plan before the senate commerce committee. and this weekend, a campaign rally but senator john mccain. he will be joined by his former running mate sarah palin in a rally in a maze that, ever done. he is running against former house member hayworth in the republican primary. a live coverage, saturday at noon, here on c-span. >> " washington journal" continues. host: our guest is ed berkowitz, history professor at george washington university. glad you can be here. it talk to us about how this legislation compares to other bills in the past. the big topic that we will talk about the next 25 minutes or so. but give us historical perspective of how major it is. guest: certainly one of the three big ones. my personal list for the big ones was so security, 1935, huger than any deals with them, where we start our social security program and unemployment compensation and welfare programs. number two, particularly in this field, 1965 when medicare was passed, which was an amendment to the social security act. that really ju

challenges to build the infrastructure of the digital age and presenting this plan today, chairman genachowskiblocks the path totally in keeping how the generations came before us built this country and at last we begin to walk the broadband walk. thank you. >> thank you. commissioner? >> thank you, mr. chairman. first to the many hard-working members of the broadband team who have spent countless hours away from your loved ones ones, absorbing terabytes of information over these many months, if you remember nothing else i say today, please remember these few words. thank you for your efforts you have floated ideas and taken some arrows. your blood and sweat toil and tears and more often than not at least laughter with me are appreciated. your commitment comment energy, and sense of mission have not gone unnoticed. while you have had to give up your personal lives including holidays with their families, i imagine this st. patrick's day will be one to remember. [laughter] even if you are not the irish. [laughter] i say this to all of you. [laughter] second, we should be mindful blair and his te

as the chairman genachowski said that they have exercised ongoing oversight in this manner and stands the future. in the wake of an era where the fcc was criticized by this congress for failing to follow good administrative progress to maintaining that process would be particularly important. any other solution turning merger review into back to regulation that hurts consumers create bad policy to misuse the competitive landscape and undermines democratic values as well as the integrity of agency processes. thank you. >> professor yoo, thank you for a match for her testimony. he indicated to senator rockefeller that i would come back in chair the second panel and i would just make a very brief statement and then ask some questions. you know, i have a history on the committee with senator lott, the dorgon lot provision. i think we were the first to exercise the legislative dede some years ago. i have long been concerned about concentration, particularly in media ownership. i don't think big is always bad or small is always good, but they do think that we should always ask the question,