THE DEVIL YOU KNOW

Forgive carriers' lobbyists this week if they're feeling a bit Forrest Gumpish. Life really is turning into a box of chocolates, and they really don't know what they're going to get. With the resignation of Billy Tauzin, R.-La., as chairman of the House Commerce Committee, Congressman Joe Barton, R.-Texas, is looking like a shoe-in to become the replacement. While not having the day-to-day impact of the FCC, the committee nonetheless is the starting point for any legislative fixes that Bell companies or their competitors want to push through Congress. In Tauzin, the Bells had a solid friend. In Barton, they have an acquaintance. Barton is no telecom neophyte, though his views aren't quite as well known as Tauzin. Speaking at the U.S. Telecom Association's show last year, Barton suggested there may be a need for a legislative fix to the wrongs that the FCC has wrought on the Telecom Act. He's a big fan of inter-modal competition, noting during the same speech that the commission's biggest problem was setting rules that gave non facilities-based carriers no incentive to build. He's an even bigger fan of energy interests and may likely spend more time worrying about LPG than UNE-P. Barton is also no stranger to telecom campaign cash. In his current campaign, the 19-year Capitol Hill veteran has taken in $10,000 from SBC while Comcast has anted up $5000 and the National Cable and Telecommunications Association did the same. So while it's likely the Bells may be getting a twangy version of Tauzin, nothing is assured. The funny thing about politics is you never know what you get until you take that first bite.