WASHINGTON-Two key Senate appropriators have chided Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin for failing to give a heads-up to Congress about reorganization and spending plans at the agency.
Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), chairman of the Senate appropriations subcommittee on commerce, justice, science and related agencies, and Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), ranking member of the panel, said they were taken by surprise by Martin’s Sept. 15 announcement in Atlanta that he intends to create a new Public Safety/Homeland Security Bureau and earmark $211 million in universal service funding for hard-hit areas.
“In making these announcements, you failed to adhere to the spirit of Section 605 of the fiscal 2005 appropriations act for the FCC, This provision requires at least 15 days advance notification of reprogramming and reorganizations,” wrote Shelby and Mikulski in a Sept. 22 letter to Martin.
Reuters disclosed the Shelby-Mikulski letter last night. RCR Wireless News reported on FCC reorganization plans in July.
“Section 605 is important to ensure that proposals which are not fully vetted during the annual appropriations process will not have unintended consequences, and to preserve Congress’ constitutional right to appropriate spending for government activities,” said the two lawmakers.
The FCC was not immediately available for comment.
Still unclear is how the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau-still without a permanent bureau chief-will be impacted by an FCC realignment.
