Robert Wexler: “to get our economy growing again, we need policies that encourage investment and job creation, especially in…”

“to get our economy growing again, we need policies that encourage investment and job creation, especially in high-technology industries like telecommunications. Just this past month, FCC Chairman Powell tried to encourage more facilities-based competition in the local exchange markets. That balanced approach, however, was abandoned in favor of keeping most of the old rules and regulations, despite predictions that it would discourage plant upgrades, new network installation, and new jobs. Surprisingly, the White House was silent when the plans of its own FCC chairman were sidelined. Mr. Speaker, the Clinton administration took a strong pro-growth, pro-jobs approach in the technology and telecom sector. The Bush administration, in contrast, seems wedded to an almost unchanging policy of benign neglect. I have over 50 facilities and 900 workers in my district that cannot tolerate this benign neglect. Under the present administration, America has lost $2 trillion in the telecommunication industry, computer investment has been erased, and 300,000 American technology workers have lost their jobs.”