Press Release
Congress Ignores Elephant in the Room at FCC Reform Hearing
Contact: Timothy Karr, 201-533-8838
WASHINGTON -- On Friday, the House Energy and Commerce communications subcommittee held a hearing on “FCC Process Reform.” Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski and all four commissioners were invited to testify. However, soon-to-depart Commissioner Meredith Attwell Baker was a no-show.
Commissioner Baker announced Wednesday that she would resign her post at the FCC and take a position as lobbyist for Comcast-NBC Universal. The move came just four months after Commissioner Baker voted to approve Comcast’s merger with NBC Universal.
In today’s hearing, members of Congress quizzed the FCC about its processes and authority, with much of the discussion centering on the agency's recent adoption of open Internet rules and approval of the Comcast-NBC Universal merger. Noticeably missing from the line of questioning and testimony was any mention of Commissioner Baker’s sudden resignation and new employer whose business she was regulating just days ago.
Free Press has collected thousands of letters calling on Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), chairman of House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, and his colleagues to investigate Baker's move to Comcast. Rep. Issa has previously pledged to investigate outside influence that would constitute a “serious breach of the independent proceedings of the FCC.”
Free Press President and CEO Craig Aaron made the following statement:
"It is stunning that at a hearing about reforming the FCC no member of Congress raised the topic of Commissioner Baker's recent rush through the revolving door into the open arms of Comcast. How can Congress preach transparency and accountability while willfully ignoring Commissioner Baker’s scandalous departure and absence at today’s hearing?
“It’s no wonder why so many Americans are disgusted with business as usual in Washington. It’s time for Congress to investigate and expose such blatant conflicts of interest, to slow down the revolving door, and to confront the larger issues that are preventing the FCC from making policies that actually benefit the American public.”
Commissioner Baker announced Wednesday that she would resign her post at the FCC and take a position as lobbyist for Comcast-NBC Universal. The move came just four months after Commissioner Baker voted to approve Comcast’s merger with NBC Universal.
In today’s hearing, members of Congress quizzed the FCC about its processes and authority, with much of the discussion centering on the agency's recent adoption of open Internet rules and approval of the Comcast-NBC Universal merger. Noticeably missing from the line of questioning and testimony was any mention of Commissioner Baker’s sudden resignation and new employer whose business she was regulating just days ago.
Free Press has collected thousands of letters calling on Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), chairman of House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, and his colleagues to investigate Baker's move to Comcast. Rep. Issa has previously pledged to investigate outside influence that would constitute a “serious breach of the independent proceedings of the FCC.”
Free Press President and CEO Craig Aaron made the following statement:
"It is stunning that at a hearing about reforming the FCC no member of Congress raised the topic of Commissioner Baker's recent rush through the revolving door into the open arms of Comcast. How can Congress preach transparency and accountability while willfully ignoring Commissioner Baker’s scandalous departure and absence at today’s hearing?
“It’s no wonder why so many Americans are disgusted with business as usual in Washington. It’s time for Congress to investigate and expose such blatant conflicts of interest, to slow down the revolving door, and to confront the larger issues that are preventing the FCC from making policies that actually benefit the American public.”
