Look. Its Kevin Martin of the FCC. Hi Kevin.
The US Congress Committee on Energy and Commerce released a scathing report of the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) under Chairman Kevin Martin. The report, titled “Deception and Distrust: The Federal Communications System Under Chairman Kevin J. Martin” (sounds like a Lifetime movie), harshly criticizes both the FCC and Kevin Martin. Although, from the title alone, you had to have guessed the report wasn’t going to be flattering.
The committee found (among other things):
- FCC Chairman Kevin Martin manipulated, withheld, or suppressed data, reports, and information from other FCC commissioners and Congress.
- Important Commission matters have not been handled in an open and transparent manner; raising suspicions on unfair treatment.
- The Commission has failed to carry out important responsibilities regarding oversight of the Telecommunications Relay Service Fund (allowing customers to be overcharged while companies are overcompensated).
- FCC Chairman Kevin Martin’s “heavy-handed” management style has created distrust, suspicion, and turmoil among the five current Commissioners.
- Commission staff have not been efficiently managed.
The report uses such statements as “classic fleecing of America” (regarding overcharging customers), “undermined the ability of the FCC to accomplish its mission” (describing Martin’s management style), and “Chairman Martin’s manipulation of the Second Report calls into question the reliability of telecommunications information and analysis provided by the FCC to Congress.” Ouch.
The investigation was launched after allegations were received from FCC employees (current and former), other FCC Commissioners, and telecom reps. The Bi-Partisan Congressional committee launched the investigation in January, however did not hold the typically expected hearings “due to the climate of fear that pervades the FCC.” Apparently, witnesses were too scared to publicly testify.
The FCC provides authoritative rule making over VoIP, telecommunications (such as Cable, Wireless Phones, Telephones, POTS, etc.), television, and almost some part of electronic life that we touch daily.
More reading:
When we see “government study,” we’re often immediately sent into a digression of thought. What would possibly motivate an official to take tax-revenue and give it to a group of government employees to learn about something of this nature. And then, we usually get so frustrated that we turn to the bottle for answers. This being said, more often than not, a study that you could never imagine as needed will generally provide at least one or two interesting results.
