Background: Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) introduced legislation, HR 4167, that would rewrite the Commission’s Sunshine Act requirements to allow more than two commissioners to meet other than at an agenda meeting, under certain conditions.
The following statement is attributed to Gigi B. Sohn, president and co-founder of Public Knowledge:
“We are pleased to endorse legislation introduced by Rep. Bart Stupak that would improve the policy-making process at the FCC. For too long, FCC staff have had more influence on that process, as commissioners have been hampered in their ability to discuss issues.
“This bill, adopting recommendations from FCC Commission Michael Copps and others, would allow for strict conditions under which Commissioners could discuss important matters outside of the Kabuki theatre of Commission agenda meetings. Under this bill, the presidentially appointed Commissioners could have a greater say in crucial decisions.
“At the same time, we want to make certain this process is not abused. We trust that the follow-up reports of those meetings, as required in the bill, will contain sufficient detail to inform the public of what transpired so that policymaking will be more transparent than under the current system, rather than less.”
Members of the media may contact Communications Director Shiva Stella with inquiries, interview requests, or to join the Public Knowledge press list at shiva@publicknowledge.org or 405-249-9435.