The presidential and key Senate races in the November elections remain highly contested and too close to predict. However, some pollsters expect Republicans to wind up with a majority of 51 seats. Republican control of the Senate would likely tilt tech policy, including expansion of high-speed internet, toward industry-friendly terms, according to analysts polled by Congressional Quarterly Roll Call.
The Biden Administration has enjoyed a Democratic majority in the Senate. Its focus has been an increase of oversight of tech companies and consumer protections. Continue Reading
One of the most highly watched races is in Montana, where incumbent Democratic Senator Jon Tester, a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, is being challenged by Republican Tim Sheehy. An average of polls calculated by ABC News’ 538 election site has Sheehy leading by 5.4 points as of October 21.
A flip in control also may mean that Ted Cruz (R-TX), currently the ranking member on the Senate Commerce Committee, becomes chairman in the next Congress. This assumes Cruz wins his race against Democrat Colin Allred. Polls have Cruz ahead, with some saying the margin is as close as one percent, according to Inside Elections with Nathan Gonzales.
If Republicans gain a majority in the Senate without winning the White House, however, they may not be able to roll back actions taken by agencies, said Will Rinehart, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. In such a scenario, Senate Republicans are more likely to increase scrutiny over regulatory agencies, notes Roll Call.
Cruz has opposed a measure to restore spectrum auction authority to the FCC. Cruz said Senate Democrats have sought to use auction proceeds to fund the Biden Administration’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which subsidized broadband deployment to low-income households.
He and other Republicans on the Senate Commerce Committee questioned how the funds were managed, since the money ran out in May, earlier than expected, Inside Towers reported. Cruz proposed a spectrum bill with Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-SD), that is considered more industry-friendly and also would refrain from spending auction proceeds on restoring the ACP.
By Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief
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