Washington, D.C.-Today, House Energy and Commerce Committee Republican Leader Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Communications and Technology Subcommittee Republican Leader Bob Latta (R-OH) sent a letter to Committee Chairman Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Subcommittee Chairman Michael Doyle (D-PA) urging them to hold a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) oversight hearing to address the unprecedented influx of funding to the commission.
Excerpts and highlights from the letter to Committee Democrats:
“We write to follow up on the letter we sent to you on May 24th requesting that you hold a hearing to review the ongoing activities and programs of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). We have not yet received a response.
“It has now been over one year since the FCC has appeared before the Energy and Commerce Committee. Since then, Congress provided over $10 billion to the agency to keep Americans connected during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Due to the lack of oversight by this Committee, we have no information about how these programs are being implemented or if they are effective. Despite this lack of information, Democrats provided an additional $25 billion to the FCC through their partisan American Rescue Plan and infrastructure packages and want to give the agency more funds in another partisan Reconciliation package. This is an unprecedented influx of funding for the FCC and not a responsible way to spend taxpayer dollars. We are concerned about the potential for waste, fraud, and abuse that may occur without proper oversight by this Committee.
“Despite a historic delay in nominating a permanent FCC Chair, we are pleased that the Biden-Harris Administration has finally nominated candidates to fill the vacancies at this important agency. It is now even more crucial for you to invite them to testify before this Committee.
“We request that you promptly schedule an FCC oversight hearing to review these and other issues within the FCC’s jurisdiction."
