Chairman Walden Plans Hearing, Legislation On Reforming FCC

Speaking at the American Cable Association annual summit, House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR) said to look for a hearing and legislation on Federal Communications Commission reform, but he did not talk about specific reforms.

Chairman Walden said the FCC is a "creature of Congress," and suggested it was Congress' duty to keep that creature in check if it starts to run loose. "Failure to do that only gives them license to do other things they don't have the authority to do," he said. He said FCC reform will be a "serious topic" the subcommittee will be working on "diligently in the weeks ahead." He said discussions have already begun on the effort and the subcommittee is seeking input from "those who have an interest in FCC process. He said he thinks that FCC commissioners from both parties agree that the process can be improved. Chairman Walden thinks that reform can be achieved in a "positive and constructive way," likening it to Republican's rewriting of the House rules.