The Senate Commerce Committee tentatively is scheduled to conside...

The Senate Commerce Committee tentatively is scheduled to consider legislation Thurs. that would reauthorize the NTIA. The committee has considered several agency reauthorizations this year, including the FTC, FCC and Commerce Dept. Technology Administration (TA). A Senate source said the bill would be short and primarily would just establish a level of funding near the $19 million the Bush Administration requested for the agency. A Senate source said the bill also was likely include funding for the Technology Opportunity Program (TOP), which was phased out of this year’s White House budget. The bill hasn’t been introduced. The NTIA reauthorization legislation won’t address efforts by the Commerce Dept. to reorganize the TA to include NTIA. House and Senate Commerce Committee members have raised concerns that such a reorganization could alter congressional jurisdiction over issues such as spectrum management. The Commerce Dept. recently sent to Capitol Hill proposed legislation that would facilitate such a reorganization, but it hasn’t been introduced. A Commerce Dept. official said she expected the bill to be introduced in Sept., after the congressional recess, though she wouldn’t say which member would offer it. The Senate Commerce Committee has a markup scheduled Thurs., 9:30 a.m, Rm. 253, Russell Bldg.