Ted Stevens (R-AK) and Daniel Inouye (D-HI) have provided some of the details on its blockbuster "Open Forum on Decency" scheduled for later this month, and also nailed down a wide-ranging schedule of communications-related hearing which will carry clear through the middle of March 2006. The forum, slated for 11/29/05, will be an all-day affair, running from 9:30 AM-5:00 PM. 14 different companies and organizations are expected to send representatives, a number which the committee says is has potential to increase. On board so far are ABC, American Cable Association, Christian Coalition of America, Creative Coalition, Clear Channel, Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association, FCC, MPAA, NAB, NCTA, PSV Ratings, Trinity Broadcasting Network, TV Watch and XM Satellite Radio. Next year, the Committee will be holding 14 hearings on communications issues on 10 different days, frequently doubling up with separate AM and PM sessions. Of particular interest to broadcasters will be another session on decency (and one on Internet pornography), kicking off the schedule 1/19/06. Other topics include video franchising and content, competition and convergence, the broadcast and audio flag, and others.

RBR observation:
Notably absent on the list of guest for the 11/29/05 Decency Forum is the Parents Television Council. We cannot remember a recent Capitol Hill session on decency without PTC's Brent Bozell - - he certainly has more frequent testifier miles than anyone else in America on this topic. We strongly suspect he'll be one of the additions to the list. Two more points: The presence of another decency session on the January schedule would seem to indicate that for the second year in a row, the proposed major increase in fines for those found guilty of indecency will not make it into law, which is amazing since it's very hard to find anyone on either side of the aisle who will admit to being against it. We'd say it's a sign that it's easier to say it than to legislate it. Also, it's only been a few days since Russ Feingold (D-WI) brought forth his anti-payola and radio/concert bill, but so far, it is not on the Commerce schedule.

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Here's the Committee's announced 2006 sked

Senate Commerce Committee 2006 Communications hearing schedule

Thursday, 1/19/06, Decency, 10 AM

Thursday, 1/19/06, Internet Pornography, 2:30 PM

Tuesday, 1/24/06, Video Franchising, 10 AM

Tuesday, 1/24/06, Video Content, 2:30 PM

Thursday, 1/26/06, Competition and Convergence, 10 AM

Tuesday, 1/31/06, Broadcast and Audio Flag, 10 AM

Tuesday, 2/7/06, Net Neutrality, 10 AM

Tuesday, 2/14/06, State and Local Issues and Municipal Networks, 10 AM

Tuesday, 2/28/06, USF Contributions, 10 AM

Tuesday, 2/28/06, USF Distribution, 2:30 PM

Thursday, 3/2/06, Wireless Issues/Spectrum Reform, 10 AM

Tuesday, 3/7/06, Rural Telecommunications, 10 AM

Tuesday, 3/14/06, VOIP, 10 AM

Tuesday, 3/14/06, Wall Street's Perspective on Telecommunications, 2:30 PM