The hearing that Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., had hoped to hold on pay-TV industry billing practices fell apart and won't happen this Congress, if ever, industry officials told us last week. No notice for such a Senate Commerce Committee hearing ever went out, and Congress is expected to recess Thursday. McCaskill had told us last week that she was struggling to nail down good witnesses (see 1412030047). The hearing originally was geared up for Dec. 10, with representatives from the American Cable Association and Consumers Union poised to testify. Commerce typically must send out a notice of forthcoming hearings by a week before, and no notice went out Wednesday, and officials first began hearing it was off that day. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., also cast doubt then, saying it was a “high wish” on McCaskill’s part. McCaskill was seen as especially keen to hold the hearing now because Democrats won't be in power in the next Congress and such a hearing may not be in the cards then. McCaskill spokespeople didn't comment on the hearing or on what may happen in the next Congress when Democrats no longer control the agenda.

House Communications Subcommittee Vice Chairman Bob Latta, R-Ohio, scored a veteran Democratic co-sponsor backing his bill to prevent the FCC’s Communications Act Title II reclassification of broadband. Latta introduced HR-4752 in May, referred to the Communications Subcommittee. In June, Latta picked up one Republican co-sponsor, Rep. Randy Weber of Texas, and then last week picked up Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y. The bill would prevent the Title II reclassification that the White House has backed in the FCC’s creation of net neutrality rules. A Rangel spokeswoman didn’t comment on the co-sponsorship. A Latta spokeswoman previously told us he plans to reintroduce this legislation next year.

House Commerce Committee leaders reiterated their commitment to draft Communications Act overhaul legislation next year, issuing a news release Thursday flagging the one-year mark since announcing the initiative. “Over the past year, the committee has sought and received thoughtful public and stakeholder feedback on a variety of issues to inform our work moving forward,” said Committee Chairman Fred Upton, R-Mich., and Communications Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden, R-Ore., in a joint statement. “As that work continues, we will begin drafting legislation next year to update the law to better meet the dynamic needs of the 21st century.” The release described the committee’s white paper process to solicit feedback as well as a hearing involving former FCC chairmen.

Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., said “when shareholders and the free market cannot -- or will not -- solve our problems, it is government’s responsibility to step in,” in his farewell address on the Senate floor Thursday. He is retiring when this term ends. Rockefeller said an example is “when private companies decide there isn’t enough profit to provide Internet to rural areas.” Rockefeller helped create the E-rate program, which he said is a way “to give children a fair shot.” He also lamented “recent failures,” citing the Senate’s inability to take on National Security Agency overhaul legislation last month. Rockefeller called some overhaul “necessary” but also pointed out risks, citing his years on the Intelligence Committee: “We must not outsource our intelligence work to telecommunications firms governed by profits rather than a solemn oath to our Country’s security.”

Senate Commerce Committee Republicans remain optimistic that the Senate could approve this year the renomination of Republican FCC Commissioner Mike O’Rielly for a full term as commissioner, a GOP committee aide told us. Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., told us earlier last week that Commerce may include O’Rielly in a Tuesday executive session off the Senate floor when considering nominees (see 1412040031), mentioning the possibility of pairing O’Rielly with a Democratic nominee. The White House renominated O’Rielly this fall for a full five-year term. “We do not expect another Commerce nominations hearing before Congress adjourns,” the aide said Thursday night. “Since O'Rielly's nomination has gone through the Committee already this Congress, we are hopeful that his re-nomination could still be reported or discharged from the Committee and moved on the floor next week.” Congress is expected to end its session Thursday.

The Senate Commerce Committee plans to address regulatory issues for the Internet of Things in the next Congress, said committee members Deb Fischer, R-Neb., and Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., at an Information Technology and Innovation Foundation event Thursday. Intel, Toyota and USTelecom, among others, sponsored the event. “Policymakers can't bury their heads in the sand and pretend this technological revolution isn't happening, only to wake up years down the road and try to micromanage a fast-changing, dynamic industry,” said Fischer. “The federal government must also avoid regulation just for the sake of regulation,” she said. “We're destined to lose to the Chinese or others if the Internet of Things is governed in the United States by rules that pre-date the VCR,” Fischer said. ITIF released a report on “10 Policy Principles” for IoT. “Many Internet of Things projects will benefit from government agencies establishing partnerships with both the private sector and others in government,” said the report. “In particular, funding these types of projects can be challenging for cities with limited budgets,” it said. “Since subjecting these technologies to lengthy regulatory review processes can delay these benefits from reaching consumers, policymakers should work to ensure that these processes are as efficient as possible,” said ITIF.

The Senate Commerce Committee may include Republican FCC Commissioner Mike O’Rielly’s renomination for a full term on its agenda for a Tuesday executive session. “I think so,” Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., told us Wednesday of the possibility of including O’Rielly. The session will happen Tuesday just off the Senate floor, with time, place and agenda not yet announced. The White House this fall renominated O’Rielly for a full five-year term. The term he had been filling expired this summer, and he's empowered as a commissioner through the end of next year, or until a successor is named. Rockefeller had missed a meeting Wednesday on whether O’Rielly and possibly another nominee, presumably a Democrat, would be on the agenda. “What you try to do is you need one from each side,” Rockefeller said. Senate Commerce ranking member John Thune, R-S.D., has wanted O’Rielly’s renomination advanced by the end of this year. “It’s what we should be doing,” Rockefeller said, saying he had his own interest in advancing the other potential nominee with whom O’Rielly could be paired. Spokespeople for Rockefeller and Thune didn't comment further Thursday.

House Judiciary IP Subcommittee members Darrell Issa, R-Calif., and Doug Collins, R-Ga., will be the subcommittee’s new GOP leaders, said House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., in a news release Thursday. Issa will be the new chair of the subcommittee and Collins will be vice chair. Collins said in an interview that he’s “thrilled” to be working with Issa and the two will make a “good tag-team.” “All copyright related issues will be handled” by the House Judiciary Committee, not the IP subcommittee, said the Goodlatte release.

President Barack Obama signed the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act reauthorization bill (HR-5728) into law Thursday, the White House announced.

The Senate Commerce Committee will consider nominations in a session off the Senate floor Tuesday, it said in a notice this week. It didn't list the nominations it would consider, but the renomination of Republican FCC Commissioner Mike O’Rielly is pending before the committee. Committee Republicans have voiced a desire to advance the O’Rielly renomination before year’s end. Commerce had postponed a nominations executive session last month, and a Republican aide had told us O'Rielly was not on that agenda. Commerce didn't give a specific time or location.