• by Wendy Davis  @wendyndavis, July 9, 2011

Google chairman Eric Schmidt will testify at an upcoming Senate hearing about competition in online search, Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) said Friday.

Lee along with Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wisc.), chairman of the antitrust subcommittee, had written to Schmidt and CEO Larry Page last month asking that one of them personally appear to testify, rather than sending chief legal officer David Drummond.

"Google is the preeminent provider of Internet search, and a hearing on this important topic would be incomplete without the direct perspective and views from one of Google's top two executives," they said. "We strongly prefer to have one of you as the witness representing Google at the hearing, which will address fundamental questions of business operations rather than merely legal issues."

Lee stated he was "pleased" that Schmidt had agreed to answer lawmakers' questions about Google and Internet search competition.

Kohn and Lee had threatened to "resort to more formal procedures" should Schmidt or Page refuse the lawmakers' request.

The search company recently confirmed in a financial filing that it's under investigation by the Federal Trade Commission. Google said the FTC's probe centers on the company's business practices, including search and advertising. Beyond that, Google said the FTC's concerns are unclear.

Kohl and Lee said in their letter to Schmidt they hope the hearing takes place before the Senate's August recess.