Overnight Tech: E&C battle nears close, Groups target FCC Dems on net neutrality

Welcome to the first issue of Overnight Tech, a news roundup and a primer for tomorrow. Includes Tuesday's schedule after the jump.

CHAIRMAN BATTLE ENDS TUESDAY (or possibly doesn't):

Tuesday could end the aggressive campaigns by four House Republicans who want to lead the Energy and Commerce Committee. 

The House GOP steering committee will convene in the afternoon to vote on the next chairman of the panel that oversees telecom and technology issues (along with healthcare and energy policy).

The contenders are Reps. Joe Barton (Texas), Fred Upton (Mich.), John Shimkus (Ill.) and Cliff Stearns (Fla.).

The contenders made presentations before the steering committee last week. House aides described the speeches as "long." They were also metaphorical: Barton, the committee's ranking member, compared the effort to take on the Obama administration to World War II.

(His powerpoint slide said the following: "Speaker Boehner is our Dwight Eisenhower in the battle against the Obama Administration. Majority Leader Cantor is Omar Bradley. I want to be George Patton—put anything in my scope and I'll shoot it.")

The voting members of the steering committee will are chosen by region. Speaker-designate John Boehner (Ohio) gets extra votes.

Still, the drama might not end Tuesday. If any member objects to the decision, they can force the full House GOP conference to vote on the topic, which would occur Wednesday.

Industry sources said that the losing contenders are unlikely to make this request themselves; rather, they'd ask another Republican who supports their bid to do so.

Why else the result matters—The chairman plays a major role in deciding who will chair the telecom subcommittee.

SPEAKING OF ENERGY AND COMMERCE: Rep. Doc Hastings is still hoping to cut off the "energy" part of the committee's title. The presumptive chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee is proceeding with his long-shot bid to take over the the House energy portfolio. The Hill's E2-Wire reports on his effort, which included a lengthy presentation on Monday. Telecom lobbyists say tech and telecom issues would get more attention from the committee if Hastings were successful, but they did not see that possibility as likely.

NET-NEUTRALITY LOBBYING TARGETS FCC DEMOCRATS:

Net-neutrality supporters have amped up their efforts to reach FCC Commissioners Mignon Clyburn and Michael Copps, both Democrats.

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski needs "yes" votes from both commissioners in order to pass his net-neutrality proposal this month.

Net-neutrality advocates are pushing hard for Clyburn and Copps to use their sway to persuade Genachowski to strengthen the rules.

The Media Access Project spoke with Copps and Free Press met with his chief of staff John Giusti last week encouraging them to push for stronger rules, according to ex parte filings.

Meanwhile, in a video that is crying out to be auto-tuned, the media group MAG-Net targets Clyburn with excerpts of her former speeches set to a clappy, pep rally song.

GOOGLE, CCIA COMMENT ON GLOBAL INTERNET FREEDOM AT COMMERCE DEPT:

Google, CCIA, BSA, and others filed comments in the Commerce Department's proceeding about the global free flow of information on the Internet.

CCIA's Ed Black said when other countries censor Internet content, it hurts the U.S. economy.

“The United States is an information economy," he said. "When other governments curtail access to information, they are harming U.S. companies and the U.S. economy. Filtering online content dilutes U.S. competition abroad and combating it should be a top priority on our diplomatic and trade agenda.”  

LOOSE ENDS

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski was in West Virginia on Monday with Senate Commerce Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va).

President Obama toured biotech classrooms at Forsynth Technical Community College in North Carolina.

FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn gave a speech in Washington on healthcare and wireless broadband. She stayed on topic—no mention of net neutrality. 

TUESDAY SKED

-The Justice Department holds a national conference on "Advancing justice through evidence and innovation." Starts at 8:30 a.m.

-The Internet Innovation Alliance (IIA) holds a conference on the implication of Washington telecom policy on jobs and the economy. Speakers include telecom analysts Rebecca Arbogast, Craig Moffett, James Ratcliffe, and Jeffrey Silva. Former FCC Commissioner Michael Powell delivers a keynote. The Newseum, 8th floor. 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

-The American Cable Association holds a press call on the Comcast-NBCU merger. 10 a.m.

-The Constitution Project holds a news conference and releases a report on "Principles for Government Data Mining: Preserving Civil Liberties in the Information Age." 12 p.m.

-Philips Healthcare holds a discussion on the future of home healthcare technology at the National Press Club. 1 p.m.

ICYMI—

Brookings offers audio, video of its Internet policy event on Monday. Tech Daily Dose has a writeup.

FCC proposal by Commissioner Copps to regulate broadcast news draws fire.

Google launches eBook store.

OMB warns feds not to visit WikiLeaks.

Minority media group takes on Obama over Comcast-NBCU merger.

Zuckerberg did 60 minutes again.

FCC report finds half of Web users "very satisfied" with broadband service, via Tech Daily Dose.

Columbia University reverses anti-WikiLeaks guidance, via Wired.

Q&A with FCC consumer chief Joel Gurin on cell phone bills, via WaPo.

SAID

“If the traffic is way out of balance, somebody pays someone else. That’s the way it has always worked.”

--Time Warner Cable chief executive Glenn Britt said Monday that Comcast's dispute with Level 3 is not a matter of net neutrality, via WSJ.

WATERCOOLER

SAFETY HAZARD—Valley Wag reports on a Texas man who needed four stitches when his cell phone suddenly exploded in his ear.