House subcommittee votes to revamp FCC process

{mosads}Democrats allowed the subcommittee to approve the bills on a voice vote on Thursday after Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.), the chairman of the subcommittee and author of the legislation, promised to work to address their concerns over the August recess.

Republicans argue the bills would provide more openness and transparency at the FCC, but Democrats warn they would open the agency up to more litigation and would hamper its ability to protect consumers.

“Make no mistake, I stand behind the language in this bill,” Walden said. “But despite our differences, I am not ready to throw in the towel on a bipartisan approach. I have instructed my staff to work over the August recess with their counterparts in Mr. [Henry] Waxman [D-Calif.] and Ms. [Anna] Eshoo’s [D-Calif.] offices to try and reach agreement.”

Eshoo said she wouldn’t support any provision that “guts the FCC’s ability to protect the public interest in media and telecom mergers” but that there other areas where compromise is possible.