Report Urges FCC Changes
A new report released Tuesday from the Government Accountability Office recommends changes in how the FCC tackles issues that come before the agency to better reflect the converging nature of today's communications landscape. In particular, the report found that while there have been some changes in the FCC's bureau structure that have allowed for communication between the agency's bureaus, the FCC lacks written procedures that will help spur more inter-bureau collaboration and communication on issues that come under the jurisdiction of more than one bureau.
"FCC's reliance on informal coordination has created confusion among the bureaus regarding who is responsible for handling certain issues," the report said, adding that the situation has led the FCC to release analysis that lacks input from all the relevant staff. The report recommended that the FCC develop written policies that outline those issues that cross more than one bureau, identify which bureau will take the lead on such issues, and take steps to ensure better communication between the staff of the various bureaus.
The GAO also said the agency needs to clarify commissioners' access to information about items on the FCC's agenda. To address this issue, the report recommended that at the beginning of his or her term, each new FCC chairman develop and make public internal policies that outline how much access commissioners will have to information from the FCC's bureaus and offices during the decision-making process.
"This report underscores the organizational challenges and opportunities facing the FCC," Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., a senior member of the Energy and Commerce Committee who asked for the GAO report, said in a statement. "The rapid evolution of the telecommunications marketplace requires an agile agency." He and Communications, Technology and the Internet Subcommittee Chairman Rick Boucher, D-Va., noted that FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski has begun making changes at the agency aimed at improving its effectiveness. "I look forward to further reforms at the FCC and urge the chairman to continue to take steps to ensure that the FCC serves the public interest by being open, transparent and accountable," Boucher said.
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