House panel wraps FCC management investigation: Results not expected for some time

A House panel said it wrapped up its investigation of the Federal Communications Commission, but findings of the probe into agency management practices will not immediately be made public.
“The committee’s investigation of the FCC has concluded. Given the timing, we will not hold a hearing this year. We are currently considering various options for making the findings of our investigation public, including a report on the investigation,” said a spokesman for the House Commerce Committee.
The committee’s investigation has kept a cloud over the GOP-led Federal Communications Commission and its chairman, Kevin Martin, for much of this year.
Shortly before Congress broke for its August recess, the FCC delivered some 40 boxes of documents to the panel’s subcommittee on oversight and investigations. That development, combined with Congress’ abridged election-year fall schedule, made it virtually impossible for a hearing.
The only reason the Democratic-controlled Congress remains in session is to fashion a $700 billion Wall Street bailout package, which went down to defeat in the House yesterday and sent the stock market – particularly tech stocks – into a tailspin. The market rallied somewhat in early trading today.
Late last year, House Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell (D-Mich.) put Martin on notice about the lawmaker’s concerns with how the agency was being run. In particular, Dingell focused on whether agency policymaking was as open and transparent as it should be. That was followed by the launch of a formal investigation in early January and, two months later, a sweeping request for documentation on a wide array of agency operations.
Martin has been criticized for, among other things, FCC meeting delays and allegedly giving fellow commissioners insufficient time to review new initiatives and proposed orders. Martin has countered that such delays are due to his desire to reach agreements with the FCC’s Republican and Democratic commissioners. Moreover, the FCC chief insists the agency is being run no differently than it was under previous Republican and Democratic chairmen.
Martin has responded by giving the public earlier notice of items up for scheduled votes, and has held regular briefings with reporters on issues pending before the FCC. In addition, Martin has sought to work with Democrats on some of their pet telecom and wireless issues.
The potential fallout for Martin as a result of the congressional probe is unclear, but likely insignificant as a practical matter because he is apt be replaced early next year by the new president.