The House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology approved two legislative proposals on Thursday to improve the transparency, efficiency and accountability of the Federal Communications Commission.
The two proposed bills, the FCC Process Reform Act and the FCC Consolidated Reporting Act, were approved in voice votes.
The measures are part of the ongoing effort to streamline obligations of the FCC and improve decision-making while reducing regulatory burdens facing job creators.
Chairman Greg Walden (R-Ore.) and Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) are sponsors of the FCC Process Reform Act.
Prior to the subcommittee’s markup, Walden and Ranking Member Anna Eshoo (D-Calf.), along with full committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) and Ranking Member Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), agreed to advance the FCC Process Reform Act out of the subcommittee and to continue to work to find a bipartisan legislative solution before the bill is marked up at full committee.
“Reforming FCC process is an issue that this subcommittee is no stranger to,” Walden said. “It is well established where my colleagues in the minority and I disagree on the specific language of this bill. However, we do agree that all government agencies should have a transparent, predictable, and consistent process that ensures the agency is productive in carrying out its responsibilities.”
The FCC Consolidated Reporting Act , introduced by Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.), would reduce the burden on the FCC to produce multiple reports and instead produce one comprehensive and informative review of the marketplace.
“These proposals get to the heart of President Obama’s recent call for a ‘smarter, more innovative and more accountable government,'” Upton said. “They are about good government and ensuring regulatory agencies work to promote economic growth.”