Print
Email
/ 12.04.2009 4:00PM
Bill Would Allow FCC Commissioners to Chat
WASHINGTON: Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) introduced legislation this week that
would allow more than two commissioners to meet other than at an agenda
meeting, under certain conditions. There must be at least one of the five
commissioners from each political party in the room, and the topic of the
meeting must be disclosed to the public.
The commissioners, particularly Democrat Michael Copps, have been asking for
greater access to one another for some time. Current rules prevent more than
two commissioners from meeting privately. Stupak’s bill, H.R. 4167, would
require renewal after five years.
Gigi B. Sohn, president and co-founder of consumer lobby Public Knowledge
welcomed the bill.
“This bill... would allow for strict conditions under which commissioners could
discuss important matters outside of the Kabuki theatre of commission agenda
meetings. Under this bill, the presidentially appointed commissioners could
have a greater say in crucial decisions.
“At the same time, we want to make certain this process is not abused. We trust
that the follow-up reports of those meetings, as required in the bill, will
contain sufficient detail to inform the public of what transpired so that
policymaking will be more transparent than under the current system, rather
than less.”
Print
Email
Thursday 12:00AM
Wireless TV Households on the Rise
“Nearly a million more homes are subscribing to broadband while skipping a traditional pay TV subscription." ~ Nielsen