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Hoping to accelerate the country's shift to digital television, leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Monday said they plan to introduce legislation to resolve several nagging disputes among Hollywood studios, consumer electronics companies, broadcasters and cable operators. The broad scope of the bill, however, and the short time left in this session of Congress make it doubtful that the legislation would pass this year. The proposal by Reps. W.J. "Billy" Tauzin (R-La.

Former Enron Corp. Chief Executive Jeffrey K. Skilling fired back Friday at congressional leaders who have questioned his honesty and integrity. In a letter to leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Skilling accused lawmakers of using taxpayer money to subsidize a public relations effort at his expense. "It has become clear ...

Telephone customers would be better protected from having their long-distance companies switched without their permission under a bill sent to the House on Thursday. The House Commerce Committee approved the bill on a voice vote without dissent. The Senate has passed a different version of the bill, but it is uncertain whether Congress will act this year on a final bill to combat "slamming."

A controversial proposal to jump-start digital television by making most existing TVs obsolete by 2007 was panned Wednesday by lawmakers and industry officials, strongly suggesting that the idea will not make it into the final bill. Draft legislation, circulated last week by the staff of Rep. W.J. "Billy" Tauzin (R-La.), recommended that the government order TV broadcasters to stop sending analog signals, the current norm, and shift to digital TV transmissions by Dec. 31, 2006.

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman W.J. "Billy" Tauzin on Thursday pressured communications regulators to resolve a dispute involving hundreds of millions of dollars between long-distance telephone carrier AT&T Corp. and local carrier SBC Communications Inc. In a letter, the Louisiana Republican demanded that Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael K. Powell say by Feb.

Even if you've already got a job, it's prudent to stay open to new possibilities. But Rep. W.J. "Billy" Tauzin (R-La.), who heads the House Energy and Commerce Committee, is taking the idea to new heights. Only weeks after he helped engineer the Medicare prescription drug benefit that greatly profits the pharmaceutical industry, he is mulling a multimillion-dollar offer to become the drug companies' chief lobbyist. Tauzin isn't the only member of Congress with such ethical issues.

Jack Valenti isn't ready to hit the road just yet. A meeting of top studio executives Monday didn't produce any definitive timetable or plan to find a successor for Hollywood's top lobbyist, although a half-dozen or so names of potential candidates whom executives like were discussed. Sources said there is no consensus at this point, adding that studio executives promised to take up the issue again after Labor Day.

In a setback for the Baby Bell phone companies, a congressional panel on Wednesday advised against lifting a federal law that bars the local phone giants from offering high-speed Internet service without first opening their local markets to competition. The House Judiciary Committee forwarded the Internet Freedom and Deployment Act with an unfavorable recommendation. And the committee added an amendment to require Justice Department approval before SBC Communications Inc.

Members of a House panel lashed out Wednesday at the Federal Communications Commission for approving telephone regulations that some lawmakers blasted as confusing and anti-competitive. In their second grilling on Capitol Hill in six weeks, the five commissioners faced nearly five hours of questions from the House Energy and Commerce Committee's telecommunications subcommittee. Some lawmakers were upset with the FCC's 3-2 vote Feb.

Rep. W.J. (Billy) Tauzin of Louisiana said Tuesday that he and other conservative Democrats have decided to stick with their party for at least a year, ending speculation that they would join the new Republican majority in the House. To keep him and other conservatives in the party, the Democratic leadership will have to prove that it wants them, he said. He said he and a number of other Democrats will form an active conservative caucus next month to make sure the party is responsive.