House Probe of FCC Finds "Egregious Abuses of Power"

[kpete]

Source: Washington Post

House Probe of FCC Finds "Egregious Abuses of Power"

A year-long Congressional investigation of Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin J. Martin found "egregious abuses of power," though it was unclear whether the nation's top telecommunications regulator broke any rules or laws during his leadership.

The report released today on the probe, titled "Deception and Distrust" and led by Reps. John D. Dingell (D-Mich.), Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, found Martin suppressed information and manipulated data to serve his agenda.

"Any of these findings, individually, are cause for concern," said Dingell. "Together, the findings suggest that, in recent years, the FCC has operated in a dysfunctional manner and Commission business has suffered as a result. It is my hope that the new FCC Chairman will find this report instructive and that it will prove useful in helping the Commission avoid making the same mistakes."

Martin has been criticized by FCC staff members for pushing his proposals to loosen media ownership rules and requirements for a la carte pricing of cable television through such tactics as suppressing agency studies that do not support his agenda.

Read more: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/posttech/2008/12/house_probe_of_fcc_finds_egreg.html?nav=rss_blog

[dbt]

1. Duh!

[Traveling_Home]

2. Call us when there's a story

"though it was unclear whether the nation's top telecommunications regulator broke any rules or laws during his leadership"

[nc4bo]

3. The timing of the release of these relevations simply astounds me...

Now tell us something we don't already know.

:argh:

[quidam56]

4. Seems America has become a nation of liars

Profit care comes ahead of Patient care in East Tennessee http://www.wisecountyissues.com And apparently false, misleading, fraudulent advertising is okay too.

[KoKo]

5. Michael Copps for CHAIR OF FCC! The Honest One!

Tell OBAMA...appoint Michael Copps!

[santamargarita]

6. Don't waste any time letting us know...

How many days does this asshole have left?

[onenote]

7. one of the dishonest things he did was fabricate a case in favor of a la carte cable

A la carte cable is a favorite of some DUers, even though its been repeatedly proven that it would actually result in most cable bills going up. Martin's predecessor issued a study that made that point and Martin instructed the staff to take the same information and issue a new study reaching a different result. When the economists working on the revised study indicated that they couldn't reach the desired result, they were instructed in no uncertain terms that the entire point of the project was to have a study that said that a la carte would lower bills so that it might influence congress. That is was blatantly unsupported by the facts was of no concern.

[babylonsister]

8. He suppressed info, manipulated data, but this isn't necessarily illegal?

Who makes these dumb rules? Why isn't this illegal?

[Judi Lynn]

9. Reuters: U.S. House Dems blast FCC chief's management

UPDATE 2-U.S. House Dems blast FCC chief's management
Tue Dec 9, 2008 5:24pm EST
(Adds Republican comment, example from report)

By Kim Dixon

WASHINGTON, Dec 9 (Reuters) - A group of congressional Democrats blasted the chief U.S. communications regulator for his opaque and unpredictable management on Tuesday citing a report they hope will spark reform of the Federal Communications Commission.

The investigation into the FCC and chairman Kevin Martin's leadership came partly in response to complaints about the agency from the public and from communications industry professionals, according to the lawmakers.

The report by House Energy and Commerce Committee majority staff cites several instances where Martin "manipulated, withheld or suppressed data, reports and information," particularly in his attempts for tougher cable regulation, an issue Martin has pursued with vigor.

"Martin's legacy is he left us a blueprint of how not to run an agency," said Bart Stupak, the Michigan Democrat who heads the panel's investigative subcommittee.

Republicans refused to sign the report, with a spokesman saying the report lacked substance. "A congressional investigation has established that the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission doesn't play well with others," said Larry Neal, deputy Republican staff director on the committee.

More:
http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN0949016420081209

[Judi Lynn]

10. ABC: Congressional Investigation Finds FCC Chair Abused Power

Congressional Investigation Finds FCC Chair Abused Power
December 09, 2008 3:08 PM

ABC News' Brian Hartman Reports: House Democrats have released a scathing assessment of FCC chief Kevin Martin's tenure at the helm of the agency, just weeks before he loses his chairmanship at the commission when the Obama administration comes to power.

A 110-page report from House Energy and Commerce Committee staff finds, "some of the most egregious abuses of power, suppression of information and manipulation of data under Chairman Martin's leadership."

Among the allegations: "Within weeks of becoming chairman in March 2005," according to committee staff interviewed for the report, Kevin Martin ordered FCC staff to rewrite a report that panned "a la carte" cable rules, which would let customers pick and choose which channels they want in a cable subscription package.

A separate 2004 report found "a la carte" would not benefit consumers. Martin allegedly wanted the report to say it would, in fact, benefit consumers.

So the committee alleges Martin ordered FCC staff to rewrite the findings. The staff then struggled with the rewrite because they didn't believe data supported what Martin wanted the report to say, according to the report.

In response, Martin allegedly yanked the assignment and gave it to more trusted staff who would write what he wanted.

More:
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/12/congressional-i.html

[BrklynLiberal]

11. Is there any govt agency to which prez shit-for-brains appointed people

that did not abuse power, get run dysfunctionally and basically operate against the interests it was supposed to protect?

[acmavm]

12. This took a whole freaking YEAR mind you!

[jmowreader]

13. It takes a while to dig up that much corruption

[acmavm]

16. Yeah, right. It also gives time to bury the evidence.

[midnight]

14. Is that it?

"It is my hope that the new FCC Chairman will find this report instructive and that it will prove useful in helping the Commission avoid making the same mistakes."

[MadMaddie]

15. Color me surprised!!!

Yawn!! Nothing here to see folks....same old Republican placed cronies placed in critical postions.