Senate Republicans Elect Wicker as Senate Commerce Chairman; 5G Hearing Soon?

Senate Republicans elected Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Commerce Committee chairman Wednesday, as expected (see 1811070054). Wicker was Senate Communications Subcommittee chairman last Congress and is likely to select past Commerce Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., to take over the subcommittee (see 1811150040). Thune gave up Senate Commerce leadership to become Senate majority whip when the 116th Congress convened last week. Wicker told us his early priorities as Senate Commerce head will include 5G deployment items and privacy legislation, with a 5G hearing potentially “one of our first hearings.” Any 5G hearing is likely to include the Streamlining the Rapid Evolution and Modernization of Leading-Edge Infrastructure Necessary to Enhance (Streamline) Small Cell Deployment Act as “starting point” for legislative discussions, Wicker said. The bill, filed last Congress, aims to implement a “reasonable process and timeframe guidelines” for state and local small-cell consideration (see 1806290063). It faced opposition from state and local governments (see 1810040055). Thune said Wicker “is poised for a successful tenure as chairman.” Competitive Carriers Association President Steve Berry cited Wicker's "deep understanding about what it takes to bring advanced broadband services to rural areas and his work on important issues including Universal Service Fund reform, broadband deployment, access to spectrum, and advancing telehealth services."