Hill leader seeks higher fines for Bells

Bell companies could face much higher fines for failing to allow competitors to connect to their phone networks under a bill introduced by House Commerce Telecommunications Subcommittee Chairman Fred Upton, R-Mich. At a debate Wednesday in the House Commerce Committee, Upton said he will hold hearings on the bill next week. The bill raises fines for a single incident to $1 million from $120,000, with a maximum fine of $10 million rather than $1 million.

Commerce Committee Chairman Billy Tauzin, R-La., said he supports the bill and would seek to have it attached to the broadband bill he and Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., have introduced when that bill clears the Commerce Committee and appears on the House floor for a vote. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael Powell wrote Hill leaders earlier this week asking for larger fines.