Sen Nelson Advises FCC Inspector General on Lifeline Investigation

Senate Commerce Committee Ranking Member Bill Nelson (D-FL.) has some advice for how the Federal Communications Commission Inspector General should conduct an investigation into FCC leaks. He asked the FCC's Inspector General to make sure that his investigation into whether or not nonpublic information about the FCC's Lifeline reform proposal was leaked looks at "all" possible sources of the information and wants to make sure it is objective and independent. That came in a letter to FCC IG David Hunt. Ranking Member Nelson said he trusted that in addition to the subject suggested by Sen John Thune (R-SD) , the IG would look at commissioner and employee statements via social media or other public forums, as well as to reporters. He also said he wanted a committee briefing on the findings. Ranking Member Nelson said he was troubled by the assumption by some that a 3-2 vote at the FCC is cause for investigation.