Public-Interest Groups to Congress: So-Called Reform Bills Would Compound Corporate Influence at the FCC

WASHINGTON -- On Thursday, 45 public interest groups sent a letter to the House Energy and Commerce Committee opposing two bills that would severely limit the Federal Communications Commission’s ability to promote competition, innovation and access to communications services.

The two bills, under the guise of “reforming the FCC,” would put the very companies the FCC is tasked with regulating in control of the agency. The letter urges lawmakers to adopt more sensible reforms that would better protect consumers and promote economic development.

Free Press Action Fund Political Adviser Joel Kelsey made the following statement:

“There is a need for sensible FCC reform, but the legislation currently being considered in the House puts the emphasis on protecting corporations rather than consumers.

"There is a clear dynamic developing here — telecom companies and their trade groups see an opportunity to tie the hands of the federal agency charged with overseeing them. They are pressuring Congress to pass these bills, which would increase the clout of corporate lobbyists at the FCC and diminish the Commission’s capacity to protect consumers.

“We've don’t need another catastrophe created because federal agencies are unable to do their jobs — we all remember the stock market crash of 2008 and the BP oil disaster.”