FCC Chief Draws Senate Criticism over New Plans

[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Jeremy Pelofsky]
Sens. Richard Shelby of Alabama and Barbara Mikulski of Maryland, the top Republican and Democrat, respectively, of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee that oversees the FCC's budget, said they were "surprised" by FCC Chairman Kevin Martin's announcements , after Hurricane Katrina, that he wanted to target about $211 million in aid to restore communications and Internet services at schools, as well as help victims reconnect telephone service. He also said he would propose a Public Safety/Homeland Security bureau to coordinate public safety, national security and disaster management actions at the FCC. In a September 22 letter to Chairman Martin, the senators reminded him that the law requires at least 15 days advance notice for reprogramming federal funds and reorganizations. The law is to "ensure that proposals which are not fully vetted during the annual appropriations process will not have unintended consequences and to preserve Congress' constitutional right to appropriate spending for government activities," they said. Sen Shelby and Mikulski expected "to receive detailed information about the FCC's proposals and any future initiatives" and enclosed a copy of the law with the letter.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticleSearch.aspx?storyID=16639+26-Oct-2005+RTRS&srch=FCC+CHIEF+DRAWS+SENATE+CRITICISM+OVER+NEW+PLANS