Universal service video franchising and the more controversial network neutrality proposals are issues they hope the new Congress will address sooner rather than later.

Reps. Rick Boucher, D-Va. and Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., said they believe a middle ground solution to net neutrality is more likely. So-called net neutrality refers to efforts to prevent those who own the Internet lines from charging preferred customers more for faster service.

"The driving fear [among content providers] is owners of the pipes would set up a situation where access is controlled by how much they pay," said Goodlatte. "People would not get as good access to your business if you don't pay more."

Goodlatte said he hopes Congress can prevent that by changing antitrust regulations. "I really think there is some middle ground to be achieved," Goodlatte said. "I really think there is some middle ground to be achieved," Goodlatte said.

AT&T agreed to follow net neutrality principles for 30 months as part of the conditions for the FCC to approve its merger with BellSouth last Friday.

Goodlatte and Boucher said Congress still needs to resolve the issue. Boucher said Democratic control of Congress makes it more likely to come up next session.

"The broadband providers need to have this issue resolved. It's not going to go away," Boucher said. "Nothing is going to pass unless this net neutrality issue is passed."

But Boucher said passing a bill that is "friendly to one side or another is not the way to go." He said such a bill would just be filibustered in the Senate.

"If we can find a way to dramatically increase bandwidth so every unaffiliated provider can reach customers, then the whole debate goes away," Boucher said.

Meanwhile, Boucher said he plans to reintroduce a bill he authored during the last Congress with Rep. Lee Terry, R-Neb., to reform the universal service program.

Goodlatte, who also has a rural district that would benefit by the telecommunications subsidies that universal service offers, supports the reforms.

"The way universal service is applied to some types [of technology] and not others is unfair and needs to be reviewed," Goodlatte said.

Both would like to see federal video franchising legislation. But it is unclear whether telecom companies will ask for federal help expanding their service into the video market -- or instead seek approval at the state level.

Boucher said that, without a push for video franchising, he is uncertain the House will try again to pass a broader telecom reform bill this session.

If not, he said universal service is something that could be handled on its own.