[1st-mile-nm] Fwd: From this AM's Congress Daily

[Marianne Granoff]

 From another List.  FYI.



>"House Investigators Prepare For Hearings On FCC Chairman
>
>
>Thu. Jun. 19, 2008
>by David Hatch <mailto:dhatch at nationaljournal.com>
>
>A congressional probe of the FCC is set to intensify this summer with plans
>for one or more hearings beginning in July despite reluctance by some
>potential witnesses to testify against the agency's chairman and other top
>officials.
>
>A House Energy and Commerce subcommittee expects to hold an initial hearing
>next month, possibly followed by sessions in September or even October,
>which would keep the agency's Republican chief, Kevin Martin, under
>sustained political pressure from Democrats and members of his own party
>until Congress adjourns.
>
>The investigation, which was launched in December, is focused largely on
>Martin and allegations that he repeatedly used aggressive tactics in dealing
>with fellow commissioners -- two Democrats and two Republicans -- to pursue
>an agenda tilted in favor of more deregulation of the telecommunications
>industry.
>
>The bipartisan probe is spearheaded by House Energy and Commerce Chairman
>John Dingell and Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigations
>Subcommittee Chairman Bart Stupak, D-Mich., with input from Energy and
>Commerce ranking member Joe Barton and Oversight Subcommittee ranking member
>John Shimkus, R-Ill.
>
>But sources say these lawmakers are facing a major challenge: disgruntled
>FCC employees and industry representatives who feel they have been
>mistreated by the commission are skittish about going public with their
>allegations, fearing retaliation by Martin, his close aides or other
>powerful commission brass.
>
>Stupak acknowledged as much at a private telecom industry meeting in
>mid-May, multiple sources told CongressDaily. His office declined to comment
>and sources familiar with Stupak's comments spoke on the condition that they
>not be quoted or named.
>
>Despite current difficulties, the subcommittee is said to be moving ahead
>with plans for hearings and confident it can muster a sufficient lineup of
>witnesses. Martin has responded over the past six months with several steps
>aimed at tamping down criticism, including monthly news briefings, more
>transparency for the agency's actions and renewed efforts to reach across
>party lines.
>
>Investigators are examining a range of issues, including complaints that
>under Martin's watch the FCC instituted rigid internal communications
>policies, reassigned seasoned employees against their will to make room for
>the chairman's allies and withdrew or altered reports inconsistent with his
>policies.
>
>The inquiry casts a wide net, examining electronic correspondence and/or
>travel records associated with all five commissioners, Martin's chief of
>staff Daniel Gonzalez, agency bureau chiefs and other high-level officials.
>
>The review was prompted by the FCC's controversial vote late last year to
>relax media ownership limits, a move championed by Martin that angered
>members of both parties, and the chairman's unsuccessful attempt to impose
>fresh regulations on the cable industry, which drew brickbats from
>Republicans.
>
>With an apparently heavy volume of material to sift through, Stupak told the
>closed gathering in May that he was urging investigators to narrow their
>focus to the strongest allegations that could be buttressed with solid
>evidence, sources said.
>
>The lawmaker raised concerns that a top Martin aide is on loan to the Energy
>and Commerce Committee while it scrutinizes the agency. On May 6,
>CongressDaily reported that Ian Dillner, the chairman's legal adviser on
>wireless issues, has been detailed to the Commerce Subcommittee on
>Telecommunications and the Internet to fill in for an attorney on maternity
>leave.
>
>Dillner's supporters note that the telecom panel is not involved in the
>inquiry and even skeptics of the arrangement give him high marks for
>professionalism. Nevertheless, critics insist that the presence of a Martin
>loyalist raises questions about the integrity of the investigation and
>whether the FCC chairman might gain access to privileged information."
>
>
>
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>8:00 AM