Political Divide In Full View At FCC Oversight Hearing

The House Commerce Committee convened an oversight hearing focused on the Federal Communications Commission. “There’s a lot on the agenda today,” said Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) since the last time the FCC's commissioners testified before the committee. A chief issue was the FCC's authority to conduct spectrum license auctions. “The agency’s lapsed spectrum authority not only deprives the Commission of a core agency function, but it impacts a massive sector of our economy and jeopardizes our global wireless leadership,” said Ranking Member Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ). “I’m proud of the bipartisan action this Committee has taken to rectify the situation, and we will not rest until we get that process back on track. We must restore the FCC’s spectrum auction authority.” But that’s about where the bipartisanship ended, as Chair McMorris Rodgers took aim at FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.