WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today Rep. Edward Markey’s (D-MA) spokesman, Israel Klein, confirmed that when the 110th Congress convenes in January, Rep. Markey will seek the chairmanship of the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet on the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Rep. Markey, who has served on the Telecommunications subcommittee since his first election in 1976, has been the Ranking Democrat on the panel since 1995 and previously served as its chair from 1987 to 1995.  He is the author and co-author of numerous landmark telecommunications laws, including the Children’s Television Act, the Cable Act of 1992, and the Telecommunications Act of 1996, including provisions establishing the “E-rate” rate for schools and libraries and the V-Chip for parental control of TV violence.  He has repeatedly led efforts to protect consumer privacy and to defend public television and public radio from crippling budget cuts and creeping commercialization.  His most recent legislative focus has been on the need to keep the Internet an open platform by adopting strong rules for “net neutrality” and to promote policies to make broadband services competitive, available and affordable to all Americans.

Rep. Markey is also the most senior member of the House Resources Committee behind Rep. George Miller, and serves on the House Homeland Security Committee.