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An Interview with U.S. Represenative Charles "Chip" Pickering
Congress is considering the possible rewriting of the Telecommunications Act, which was last amended in 1996. The House Energy and Commerce Committee will play a significant role in the legislative process, and recently Wireless Wave sat down with its Vice-Chairman, Representative Charles “Chip” Pickering (R-Mississippi, 3rd District), to gain his perspective on the rewrite and wireless communications.
Wireless Wave: As a member of the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, why is wireless communication such a high priority to you?
CP: For a state like Mississippi, wireless offers the greatest ability of any communication means to transform the economy, allow our businesses to be more efficient and productive, and set the stage for tremendous change in the way that we provide such vital services as long-distance education and health care. I have looked at wireless communications during my time on the Commerce Committee and when I worked on Senate staff (for Senator Trent Lott and Senate Commerce Committee) as a solution for essentially rural states, such as Mississippi, to leapfrog past existing technologies and communications and use advanced wireless networks to significantly improve our quality of life. It’s also critically important for the safety of our citizens and for our first responders in terms of public safety and national security. For example, after Hurricane Katrina, our cellular companies in Mississippi were the first communications companies to get back up and running , so that we could communicate with critical personnel, military, first responders,
and relief and charity groups. Wireless allowed a lot of people who were hurting to get help. Wireless is the most reliable means of telecommunications now in Mississippi, which is really a significant statement to make. If you sit back and look at all that it offers, I think wireless communication is making a significantly positive contribution to every part of Mississippi and American life.
Wireless Wave: Do you remember your first cell phone?
CP: I believe the first cell phone that I used extensively was in my first campaign for Congress in 1995 through ’96. All of my campaign staff and I were constantly on our cell phones, and at that time they were analog, not digital. The networks and the coverage in Mississippi were not nearly as robust and as extensive as they are now, and there was always the crackling and the dead spots. I remember during my first campaign being out on the road getting calls from my pollster to tell me about my poll numbers, and because the phone was analog my opponent was picking the calls up, too. [laughter].
Wireless Wave: And leaking to the press?
CP: Oh yes! [more laughter]
