Reform Urged For FCC

Michael O'Rielly

Republicans at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and on Capitol Hill are calling on the agency to be more transparent and allow for greater public interaction, according to The Hill.

In a blog post last week, Republican Commissioner Michael O’Rielly pushed for the ability to disclose and discuss items ahead of agency votes.

“Allowing public access to the draft text of Open Meeting items before a vote is the right thing to do from a good government perspective,” O’Rielly wrote.

Under current agency rules, commissioners are prohibited from disclosing information about the substance of items once those items are set to be voted on by the five-member commission.

Rep Greg Walden

The rules keep commissioners from hearing concerns about specifics and bar interested parties from contributing more meaningfully to the debate over the items, O'Rielly continued.

In a statement Monday, Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) — the chairman of the House Commerce Committee on Communications and a vocal advocate for FCC reform — echoed O’Rielly’s concerns.

“Commissioner O’Rielly’s call for increased transparency and better process at the commission could not be more timely,” Walden said, pointing to recent instances of frustration among the Republican commissioners.

“In both the FCC and the Senate, the American people deserve better — the time for reform is now.”