Congress loses telecom giant

Congress lost one of its foremost experts on telecommunications with Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Va., falling to GOP challenger Morgan Griffith.

"Tonight the Congress has lost one of its most intelligent and tech-savvy members," said Public Knowledge President GiGi B. Sohn. "Rick Boucher has been one of the most moderate and thoughtful voices on communications and intellectual property policy. It has been a great honor and pleasure working closely with him over these past 9 years, and I hope to have the opportunity to do so again in the future."

First elected to Congress in 1982, Boucher has been the man behind a host of telecommunications and technology legislation. From writing provisions of the 1996 Telecommunications Act to working tirelessly to advance legislation that would reform a $9 billion fund that subsidizes low-income and rural communications, Boucher has been a cornerstone of telecom policy for nearly three decades.

"Boucher is one of a handful of legislators to appreciate the Internet's unique character and the opportunity it represents," said Richard Bennett, a research fellow at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation. "With Boucher leaving the Internet subcommittee, we face the prospect of a a telephone-era regulator taking his place."

Boucher also was one of the few Democrats who voted against the health-care reform law, though his "no" vote apparently wasn't enough to satifsy conservative-leaning voters in Virginia's 9th District.

It is quite a reversal of fortune for Boucher who did not even face a Republican challenger in 2008 and coasted to re-election in most years. Even in 1994, when the last big Republican tide swept Democrats from power, Boucher won easily with 59 percent of the vote.