Reps Eshoo, Pallone Will Oppose FCC Reform Bill

House Communications Subcommittee Ranking Member Anna Eshoo (D-CA), has signaled she can accept an Federal Communications Commission reform bill with a delay on a provision letting more than two FCC commissioners meet outside of public meetings, but can't accept it if it includes Republican-backed amendments she has already said she opposes. That came in prepared text for her opening statement for a markup of HR 2583, the FCC Process Reform Act in the House Commerce Committee June 3. Ranking Member Eshoo had been a co-sponsor of the bill, but apparently wanted her name off it to avoid having to vote against her own bill, which has the Republican votes to be amended to include their proposals. Those include requiring the FCC to publish texts of draft decisions when they are circulated (customarily three weeks before a vote), to publish its decisions within 24 hours of a vote, and to publish 48 hours beforehand for decisions granted on delegated authority.

Ranking Member Eshoo said while she continued to support the underlying bill, even with the delay on commissioners meeting, she also suggested the above requirements were essentially poison pills. House Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-NJ) concurred. "While I support HR 2853 in its current form, I have been clear that I cannot support the other Republican drafts I anticipate will be added as amendments during markup," Ranking Member Pallone said. "Experts have said, quite simply, that it would result in confusion, litigation, and delay. So I will oppose those bills and any final bill that includes its provisions."