Dingell Probe Of FCC Could Yield June Hearing
FCC Chair Blamed For Regulatory Agency’s ‘Broken’ Process
By Ted Hearn -- Multichannel News, 4/29/2008 8:33:00 AM
Washington—Staff members on the House Energy and Commerce Committee are recommending public hearings in June on the management practices of Federal Communications Commission chairman Kevin Martin.
“The bottom line is that the (FCC) process appears broken and most of the blame appears to rest with chairman Martin,” the staff memo said. “We propose hearings in June.”
Committee chairman John Dingell (D-Mich.) opened the probe last December. A month later, he ordered Martin not to destroy records relevant to the investigation.
The staff recommendation came in an April 28 memo to Dingell and Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), who is chairman of the panel’s subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. A copy of the memo was obtained Tuesday by Multichannel News.
A senior Martin aide didn’t have an immediate comment.
The cable industry has frequently complained about the way Martin has run the agency, saying he has repeatedly targeted the industry for punitive regulation because cable operators and programmers refused to sell programming on an a la carte basis.
Martin has also been accused of excessive secrecy, a reputation he’s been trying to change in recent months. He had been holding regular sessions with reporters and disclosing public meeting agendas three weeks in advance.
Dingell’s staff said in the memo that the investigation is “ongoing” and the recommendation to hold a hearing was based on “more than 30 interviews with current and former [FCC] employees as well as industry representatives and private citizens.”
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Quigley says - "Round'em up and head'em out" good senator - Rawhide!
Quigley Spargus - 5/1/2008 6:19:00 PM EDT -
Quigley says - "Round'em up and head'em out" good senator - Rawhide!
Quigley Spargus - 5/1/2008 6:18:00 PM EDT -
A probe of FCC practices is good but it may be the sights are on the wrong target. Differ with Chairman Martin if you want, but there is plenty evidence the staff, especially Media Bureau, has their own agenda. The absurd ruling on leased access channel placement is an example. Oddly, even NCTA seems to agree that placing content in the upper stratosphere of a digital tier will lose viewers. The rules explicitly states leased access is to be on a channel, actually used by most subscribers, but members of Media Staff choose to ignore this. So, investigate yes, but look real hard at what the staff does that ignores the Chairman and Commission, even to re-writing rules to suit their fancy.
Charlie Stogner - 4/30/2008 9:59:00 AM EDT -
It''s about time someone recognized Martin''s political corruption! I hope he gets the boot, he''s nothing more than a paid political puppet. I''m sure he can retire nicely w/ all the money the NAB paid/bribed him with...
Dave - 4/30/2008 1:49:00 AM EDT
