House subcommittee votes to revamp FCC process

The House Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Communications and Technology advanced two bills that would overhaul the way the Federal Communications Commission operates.

House Republicans approved similar bills last year, but Senate Democrats never brought them up. Democrats allowed the subcommittee to approve the bills on a voice vote after Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR), the author of the legislation, promised to work to address their concerns over the August recess. Republicans argue the bills would provide more openness and transparency at the FCC, but Democrats warn they would open the agency up to more litigation and would hamper its ability to protect consumers.