FCC Oversight and Overlooks

The Senate Commerce Committee held an oversight hearing of the Federal Communications Commission on August 16. When he announced the hearing, Committee Chairman John Thune (R-SD) said, “From efforts to better utilize spectrum powering our wireless economy to expanding rural broadband access, combatting robocalls, and reviewing the media landscape, the FCC and its operations are critically important. This hearing will offer Senators the opportunity to ask commissioners questions about topics of critical importance to their states and constituents.”  And the Senators did just that. The hearing was slightly less partisan than the House oversight hearing on July 25. (Well, except for when all those relatable politicians started talkin’ football teams. But that's for another post.) While big-picture issues followed traditional partisan and ideological splits, most senators were focused on asking questions that related to policies that had an impact on their constituencies. Still, in light of 24 million Americans lacking broadband, a controversial net neutrality proceeding, and a President unabashedly attacking the press, one was left wondering how much of the hearing was oversight, and how much was overlook.