WASHINGTON, DC - Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR) today announced that the subcommittee has scheduled a hearing on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013, to receive testimony from the five sitting Federal Communications Commission commissioners.
“With the recent confirmations of Chairman Tom Wheeler and Commissioner Michael O’Rielly, the commission is once again fully constituted. As the subcommittee of jurisdiction, we’re looking forward to sitting down with the commission on December 12 and having an open, wide ranging discussion that will include everything from cell phones on airplanes to FCC process reforms and the status of the incentive auctions, as we work on the 2014 telecommunications agenda," said Walden. “The communications and technology sector is a welcome bright spot in our economy, and we must continue working to ensure the innovation and job growth continues to flourish."
Background
Members last heard from the full commission in July 2012. With the confirmation of a new chairman, the subcommittee intends to conduct general oversight and discuss the breadth of issues before the commission. These include the progress of spectrum incentive auctions included as part of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, progress on expansion of unlicensed spectrum opportunities in the 5 GHz band, trials for the transition of portions of the public switched telephone network to Internet Protocol, proposed changes to the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) discount calculation of media ownership, and FCC process reform.
Additional information on the Dec. 12, 2013 hearing will be posted here when available.
