Resolution on FCC Reform Divides NARUC Committee

State regulatory commissioners are split on how strongly to express longstanding grievances with Federal Communications Commission processes. A resolution on reform of FCC management and practices dominated the agenda as the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners continued its winter meeting Sunday. The original draft resolution was a straightforward, one-page document which welcomed changes at the commission by the new Obama administration, while calling attention to often-cited criticisms of the lack of transparency in operations, the slow pace of action on dockets and delay in open opening new ones, as well as barriers to intra-agency cooperation. A revised draft included language praising FCC Chairman Copps for his reform effort, with the caveat that many of the changes had been employed by previous chairmen and suggested by the other two sitting commissioners. The subcommittee draft went on to specify in detail other NARUC concerns, including problems in the operation of Federal-State Joint Boards and a "lack of definitive action by the Commission on important issues both at a federal and state level" that results in many orders being "deemed granted" through "excessive" use of the forbearance process. Recent rulemakings and orders made it "apparent that the Commission needs to enhance its capabilities in...economics, engineering, and administrative law," read one clause.