House Communications and Technology Subcommittee Approves Legislation to Increase Transparency and Efficiency at FCC

The House Commerce Committee’s Communications and Technology Subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR), approved the Federal Communications Commission Process Reform Act of 2011 (H.R. 3309) by a vote of 14 to 9, and the Federal Communications Commission Consolidated Reporting Act of 2011 (H.R. 3310) by voice vote. These bills improve the way the FCC operates by increasing transparency, predictability, and consistency.

The panel rejected an amendment from Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA), the subcommittee's ranking member, that would have expanded the authority of the FCC to review corporate mergers. Rep. Lee Terry (R-NE) said the amendment would have "nefarious" consequences. "I don't think you intended to use that word," Rep Eshoo said. "It doesn't belong in this hearing room." Rep Terry said he stood by his statement.

Chairman Walden said the reforms would create regulatory certainty, helping businesses know when to invest. Rep Eshoo said the legislation would give companies that disagree with the FCC's decision new grounds to bring lawsuits, opening the agency up to "years of litigation." "At the end of the day, I don’t think this is reform. It’s gumming up the works," she said.

Rep. Mike Doyle (D-PA) said the bills are an "effort by some of my colleagues to create procedural roadblocks that only apply to the FCC." Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) said the measures are "good policy because we all know that the FCC has a little bit of a problem with overreaching their authority."