Leadership changes at the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Universal Service Administrative Co. (USAC) are likely to have a positive impact on the $2.25 billion-a-year federal eRate program, according to knowledgeable education advocates.

The departure of a strident eRate opponent in the House and the arrival of an experienced eRate administrator at USAC are causes for optimism, insiders say. Rep. Billy Tauzin, R-La., on Feb. 3 announced his decision to resign as chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, effective Feb. 16, after being hospitalized for health problems. A long-time critic of the eRate, which provides discounts on telecommunications services to eligible schools and libraries, Tauzin initiated a probe into the eRate last March after a report from the Center for Public Integrity called the program "honeycombed with fraud and financial shenanigans."

Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, not generally considered an opponent of the eRate, is pegged to be the next chairman of the committee. Barton did not return an eSchool News reporter's telephone calls by press time.

Committee spokesman Ken Johnson said he doubts the change in leadership will have any impact on the committee's investigations, because the probe is being overseen by Rep. Jim Greenwood, R-Pa., chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.

"We are knee-deep in investigations, and we plan to hold hearings this spring," Johnson said.

eRate insiders say they are interested to see the tone of the remainder of the investigations and the hearings after Tauzin's departure.

"It's going to show us: Was this a personal vendetta of Tauzin, or was this a clear concern of the committee?" said Gary Rawson, infrastructure planning and eRate coordinator for Mississippi's Information Technology Services department and chairman of the State eRate Coordinator Alliance, which is sponsored by the Council of Chief State School Officers.

Sara Fitzgerald, vice president of communications for eRate consulting firm Funds for Learning LLC, said she believes that if the hearings go forward, they will be "a temperate, reasonable look at the program" now that Tauzin is no longer involved.

USAC, the agency that administers the eRate, also will have new leadership. In January, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Michael Powell named Lisa Zaina, former senior legal advisor for FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein, to replace Cheryl Parrino as USAC's chief executive.

It's too soon to know what impact Zaina's leadership will have on the eRate, said Mel Blackwell, a spokesman for USAC's Schools and Libraries Division (SLD) because she doesn't start until March 1.

But, he added, "I think the overall impact will be great. She understands the program. She knows the program. She has worked with the program. I think she is a tremendous addition and will make a seamless transition."