Investigation of FCC Ends, For Now
posted by Danielle Citron
In January 2008, the House Energy and Commerce Committee initiated a formal investigation into the FCC’s “regulatory procedures and practices.” At issue were concerns that agency officials abused how items were brought to a vote, leaked information to certain lobbyists and not to others, and insisted up moving forward with modifications of the ban on newspaper-broadcast cross-ownership depsite attempts to stop or delay agency action by members of FCC oversight committees in both Houses. According to Chairman John Dingell, the investigation would assess if the FCC’s procedures were conducted in a “fair, open, efficient, and transparent manner.” In March, the Committee asked FCC Chairman Kevin Martin for emails, memoranda, notes, phone conversations, meeting schedules and other information on the setting of FCC agendas, any limitations on communications between employees on official agency business, contacts with industry, personnel reassignments, among other things.
The Committee has just announced the end of its investigation. Now, the Committee is “considering how best to make our findings public, including a committee report.” The investigation did not include public hearings. Although the Committee members are no doubt distracted by the current fiscal crisis, one can hope that their report is issued soon.
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September 29, 2008 at 11:04 am
Posted in: Administrative Law, Media Law
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