Reps Upton and Walden Scrutinize the FCC’s Internal Procedures in Recent Universal Service Reform Effort

As the House Commerce Committee prepares to vote on legislation to increase transparency and accountability at the Federal Communications Commission, Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) and Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR) expressed concern regarding the lack of transparency surrounding the FCC’s recent universal service proceedings.

The chairmen requested the FCC outline what changes were made to the universal service item between the time it was considered and the time it was adopted. They request responses to a list of requests by Dec. 12, including copy of the item as it existed when it was adopted on Oct. 27, what changes, if any, were made, and an explanation of how the sunshine rules applied to the order between the time of a seven-page executive summary released Oct. 27 and the 759-page order was released Nov. 18, including any ex parte communications.