FCC Reform Update 01.09.08

1. House panel launches probe of FCC practices
2. Comcast, AT&T, Verizon Agree: Reform The FCC

HOUSE PANEL LAUNCHES PROBE OF FCC PRACTICES
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Julie Vorman]
Bipartisan leaders of the House Commerce Committee launched an investigation of the Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday, three weeks after the agency's controversial vote to ease media ownership restrictions. In a letter sent to FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, the committee asked that all electronic records and personal e-mails related to FCC work be saved. The committee has "initiated a formal investigation into FCC regulatory procedures to determine if they are being conducted in a fair, open, efficient, and transparent manner," said the letter written by Chairman John Dingell (D-MI) and ranking Republican Joe Barton (TX). "This investigation will also address a growing number of allegations received by the committee relating to management practices that may adversely affect the agency's operation," the letter said.
http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN0852153620080108
* House Launches FCC Investigation; Warns Against Destroying Documents
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6518202.html?rssid=193
* House Committee Launches Probe of FCC Management
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119982972316175627.html?mod=todays_us_ma...
* Dingell Seeks Email, Documents From FCC Chairman Kevin Martin
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6518252.html?rssid=196
* Read the letter: http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_110/110-ltr.010808.FCC.Martin.pdf

COMCAST, AT&T, VERIZON AGREE: REFORM THE FCC
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
At the Consumers Electronics Show, one moderator asked, “[What’s] the one thing … at the FCC that you would like to change?” A Comcast executive answered, "I'd like to see some process improvements. I think the FCC has lost its way in its ability to get good, solid factual decisions done on a timely basis and with the openness that you need for an entity that's responsible for hundreds of billions of dollars in our economy." A Verizon exec said, "The FCC is structured about broadcast, cable and telephone. That isn't the world we are live in, and it isn't the world we are going to. The FCC has to be overhauled for the Internet world.” An AT&T rep replied, "I would like to see Congress take a fresh look at the entire mission of the FCC. Rather than approach prescriptive regulation of intra-industry relations, I think it ought to be restructured around consumer protection. I think there is a role there. I think we ought to be thinking about the FCC’s role vis-a-vis consumers, not vis-a-vis refereeing between industry players."
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6517967.html?rssid=196