WASHINGTON, DC - The House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, chaired by Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR), today continued its oversight of the Federal Communications Commission. Members reviewed the FCC’s FY 2016 budget request, questioned the commissioners about the recent vote to regulate the Internet with Depression-era rules, and discussed draft legislation to bring the FCC into the 21st Century.
“We have chosen to begin our #CommActUpdate process with a reauthorization of the FCC. The communications and technology landscape has changed dramatically since Congress last reauthorized the commission 25 years ago. It is our responsibility to make sure the FCC has the tools it needs to accomplish the goals outlined by Congress," said Walden. “We must also be diligent in our work to protect taxpayer dollars spent at the commission. Whether in appropriation from Congress or collection through the Universal Service Fund, these dollars come out of the pockets of American consumers and must be put to productive use."
As part of the committee’s effort to improve and modernize government for the 21st century, members discussed a key component of the #CommActUpdate - a reauthorization of the FCC.
“Reauthorization of the Federal Communications Commission is long overdue as the agency was last reauthorized nearly a quarter of a century ago," Full Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) explained. “A lot has changed over the last 25 years, and reauthorization provides an important opportunity to refocus the commission for the innovation era on its core purpose and responsibility to administer the policies set by Congress for the American people."
