The General Accounting Office has issued a report slamming the FCC for
leaking information to companies and lobbyists while leaving consumer
advocates and the public in the dark. The study found lobbyists are
given ample information on when (and sometimes how) the agency plans
to vote, while consumer advocates get no such insight.

The study notes that timing is everything, and lobbyists given a three
week warning on a vote can determine precisely when to apply lobbying
pressure. Doling out such information "undermine(s) the fairness and
transparency of the process and constitute(s) a violation of FCC's
rules," the GAO said. We are recommending that FCC take steps to
ensure equal access to information by making sure that nonpublic
information is safeguarded from disclosure, and to determine what
actions FCC should take if a prohibited disclosure is made,
so that all stakeholders have the same information to inform their
participation in the rulemaking process. FCC took no position on our
recommendation.Of course the GAO has also been complaining for years
that the FCC's data on broadband competition is immensely flawed and
the FCC has done little to fix it. The GAO's latest report also
criticized the FCC for using external organization data instead of
conducting more of their own internal studies.

"When the 'corporate insiders' and 'K-Street' crowd have the inside
track on decisions critical to telecommunications, media, broadband or
wireless policy, then the public and consumers, are at an inherent
disadvantage," says Rep. Edward J. Markey, chairman of the House
Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet in a statement.

Last month, while Google and Verizon were battling over 700Mhz
broadband spectrum, FCC chief Kevin Martin leaked limited parts of the
FCC's auction plans early, apparently to influence press coverage.
According to FCC rules, the content of agenda items - such as draft
proposals - are "nonpublic information" and "shall not be disclosed,
directly or indirectly, to any
person outside the Commission" under penalty of possible termination."

http://markey.house.gov/docs/telecom...Rulemaking.pdf

FCC Sucks them nasty things a million miles long!
cuhulin

On Oct 3, 2:48 pm, wrote:
The General Accounting Office has issued a report slamming the FCC for
leaking information to companies and lobbyists while leaving consumer
advocates and the public in the dark. The study found lobbyists are
given ample information on when (and sometimes how) the agency plans
to vote, while consumer advocates get no such insight.

The study notes that timing is everything, and lobbyists given a three
week warning on a vote can determine precisely when to apply lobbying
pressure. Doling out such information "undermine(s) the fairness and
transparency of the process and constitute(s) a violation of FCC's
rules," the GAO said. We are recommending that FCC take steps to
ensure equal access to information by making sure that nonpublic
information is safeguarded from disclosure, and to determine what
actions FCC should take if a prohibited disclosure is made,
so that all stakeholders have the same information to inform their
participation in the rulemaking process. FCC took no position on our
recommendation.Of course the GAO has also been complaining for years
that the FCC's data on broadband competition is immensely flawed and
the FCC has done little to fix it. The GAO's latest report also
criticized the FCC for using external organization data instead of
conducting more of their own internal studies.

"When the 'corporate insiders' and 'K-Street' crowd have the inside
track on decisions critical to telecommunications, media, broadband or
wireless policy, then the public and consumers, are at an inherent
disadvantage," says Rep. Edward J. Markey, chairman of the House
Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet in a statement.

Last month, while Google and Verizon were battling over 700Mhz
broadband spectrum, FCC chief Kevin Martin leaked limited parts of the
FCC's auction plans early, apparently to influence press coverage.
According to FCC rules, the content of agenda items - such as draft
proposals - are "nonpublic information" and "shall not be disclosed,
directly or indirectly, to any
person outside the Commission" under penalty of possible termination."

http://markey.house.gov/docs/telecom...Rulemaking.pdf

Sounds like business as usual in DC. This is how we end up with
stooges like Tardo mucking up AM for the benefit of his corporate
masters.

Steve wrote:

On Oct 3, 2:48 pm, wrote:
The General Accounting Office has issued a report slamming the FCC for
leaking information to companies and lobbyists while leaving consumer
advocates and the public in the dark. The study found lobbyists are
given ample information on when (and sometimes how) the agency plans
to vote, while consumer advocates get no such insight.

The study notes that timing is everything, and lobbyists given a three
week warning on a vote can determine precisely when to apply lobbying
pressure. Doling out such information "undermine(s) the fairness and
transparency of the process and constitute(s) a violation of FCC's
rules," the GAO said. We are recommending that FCC take steps to
ensure equal access to information by making sure that nonpublic
information is safeguarded from disclosure, and to determine what
actions FCC should take if a prohibited disclosure is made,
so that all stakeholders have the same information to inform their
participation in the rulemaking process. FCC took no position on our
recommendation.Of course the GAO has also been complaining for years
that the FCC's data on broadband competition is immensely flawed and
the FCC has done little to fix it. The GAO's latest report also
criticized the FCC for using external organization data instead of
conducting more of their own internal studies.

"When the 'corporate insiders' and 'K-Street' crowd have the inside
track on decisions critical to telecommunications, media, broadband or
wireless policy, then the public and consumers, are at an inherent
disadvantage," says Rep. Edward J. Markey, chairman of the House
Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet in a statement.

Last month, while Google and Verizon were battling over 700Mhz
broadband spectrum, FCC chief Kevin Martin leaked limited parts of the
FCC's auction plans early, apparently to influence press coverage.
According to FCC rules, the content of agenda items - such as draft
proposals - are "nonpublic information" and "shall not be disclosed,
directly or indirectly, to any
person outside the Commission" under penalty of possible termination."

http://markey.house.gov/docs/telecom...Rulemaking.pdf

Sounds like business as usual in DC. This is how we end up with
stooges like Tardo mucking up AM for the benefit of his corporate
masters.

Yeah, that's it... Edweenie (besides all the other things he is) is a Corporate
Stooge!

When is Billy Sixpack going to realize that these agencies serve only to
serve their corporate benefactors AND NOT the average citizen with his
magnetic yellow ribbons stuck to his bumper?