Larry Downes: “A simple path forward for FCC transparency” (The Hill)

Posted in News

Monday, January 9, 2017

The Hill

Last summer, Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune (R-S.D.) criticized outgoing FCC Chair Tom Wheeler for a lack of transparency about Commission proceedings. In particular, Thune complained that Wheeler had exempted himself from the agency’s own rule regarding the disclosure of nonpublic information, a tactic he had used both to shape public debate and silence Republican members of the Commission. The Chairman, Thune said, was once again “utilizing questionable legal authority, while simultaneously trying to dodge public accountability.” […] Partisan sniping aside, leadership of the agency is poised to change hands this month. So now seems the right time to consider how the FCC could conduct its business more effectively.