Washington - Jun 23, 2011 - The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, chaired by Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR), held a hearing on June 22, 2011, to discuss ideas for reforming the FCC process. The subcommittee considered how the Federal Communications Commission conducts the public's business. The hearing focused on how to codify best practices to ensure consistency from issue to issue and from one commission to the next.

The subcommittee prepared a draft bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to provide for greater transparency and efficiency in the procedures followed by the Federal Communications Commission. The proposed bill is currently titled the Federal Communications Commission Process Reform Act of 2011.

According to the subcommittee's press release to announce the hearing, the group says that under chairmen from both parties, the FCC has fallen into practices that weaken decision-making and jeopardize public confidence. While current Chairman Genachowski told the subcommittee of several steps he has taken as chairman to increase the Commission's transparency and efficiency, the subcommittee wants to see statutory requirements in place to ensure the Commission follows best practices from issue to issue and from one commission to the next.

A synopsis of the subcommittee's plan is available at this link.

The text of the proposed bill is available at this link.