He’s been actively seeking the passage of the AM Radio in Every Vehicle Act alongside Democratic colleague Ed Markey of Massachusetts for months, as the legislation appears stalled and won’t get an all-important Senate vote in the current Congress.
Once the next Congressional session starts, a reintroduced bill could carry itself through to passage, regardless of how the Trump White House feels about a mandate for kHz-band radio access at no charge in all vehicles sold in the U.S. And Ted Cruz, the current Ranking Member of the influential Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, will be the Act’s chief crusader in a much higher, powerful role.
Cruz is poised to become Chairman of the Committee, taking the helm from Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.). It puts the Texan whose father escaped the Castro regime in Cuba in a position that will see him help shape regulatory policy on AI, data privacy, technology and broadcasting.
Regulation of Artificial Intelligence is potentially where Cruz will seek a path much different from that of the Biden-Harris Administration. As noted by Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call, overregulation of AI could hand an advantage to the People’s Republic of China. Enter the “light touch” philosophy that was a hallmark of the FCC under Ajit Pai.
But, what should a GOP-led Senate Commerce Committee do with respect to regulatory policy and “Big Tech” companies? Where Cruz goes could clash with other Republicans, including just re-elected Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.).
With a 52-42 lead, minus independent Bernie Sanders, Republican leadership in the Senate could also greatly aid an FCC led by Brendan Carr, helping broadcasters who have been clamoring for deregulation.
Meanwhile, Republican leadership of the House of Representatives is expected to remain, positioning Rep. Bob Latta of Ohio in a potential role as House Energy & Commerce Committee Chair. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington announced her retirement from political life earlier this year and did not seek reelection. Roll Call suggests that Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) is a potential challenger to Latta for House E&C leadership.
As of 1:45pm Eastern on Wednesday, the Republicans held a 201-184 advantage in the House. And, that empowered outgoing House E&C head Rodgers to implore FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel to cease all partisan rulemaking.
