Heller Gets Industry Plaudits for FCC Reform Act

Dean Heller

Sen. Dean Heller (R-Nev.) was hearing some applause from the industry for his introduction of a Federal Communications Commission process reform bill that would require the agency to publish the text of items before they are voted on and would require the commission to do cost-benefit analysis on new regs, according to Multi-Channel News.

FCC chairman Tom Wheeler's decision not to diverge from normal process and publish the net neutrality order before the planned Feb. 26 vote—after being asked to do so by congressional Republicans—has become a side issue in the debate over the proposed new rules.

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"NAB supports the introduction of the FCC Process Reform Act of 2015 and the efforts by Senator Heller to help ensure that Commission procedures don't impede the ability of broadcasters to serve the public interest," said NAB spokesman Dennis Wharton.

"The agency has a critically important mission, and it is imperative that it execute that mission expeditiously, fairly and in a data-driven manner."  

Heller's bill would also loosen restrictions on nonpublic meetings among FCC members, allowing three members to meet in nonpublic settings so long as there is at least one commissioner from each party and there are transparency protections in place.