Hearing of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee - Opening Statement of Rep. Pallone, Hearing on Oversight and Reauthorization of the Federal Communications Commission

Hearing

I'd like to thank the FCC commissioners for joining us this morning -- our first FCC oversight
hearing of this Congress. While I'm glad that you are all here today, this hearing should
have occurred months ago. The Republican majority had no problem conducting oversight
of the previous Obama Administration, holding quarterly oversight hearings. But now that
their own party controls the Commission, we're six months into the administration and this is
our first hearing with the new commission. I hope that this is not a sign of things to come
because the Commission's own actions have shown the critical need for Congressional
oversight.
To date, most of the FCC's actions have ignored the needs of consumers. Too often, when
given the choice, this FCC has sided with large corporations to the detriment of hardworking
Americans.
The Commission started the year by making it more difficult for competitors to offer
broadband to low-income people through the Lifeline program.
It continued with a scheme to encourage more consolidation in the media industry, which
would eliminate voices from the air.
Last week Chairman Pai refused to commit to protecting the funds necessary to close the
homework gap as part of the popular E-Rate program in our schools.
And then there is the alarming outright refusal by the FCC to protect the security of our
broadband networks at a time when the Russians and others are looking for new ways to
break in.But the highest profile example of the FCC siding with large corporations over small
businesses and hardworking Americans is its attempt to eliminate net neutrality.
Net neutrality is crucial for our democracy by giving everyone an equal voice online--
especially those communities too often overlooked by traditional media. Each of us gets to
decide which videos we watch, which sites we read and which services we use. Nobody
gets to influence that choice -- not the government and not the companies that run the
networks.
Net neutrality also allows small businesses to flourish. These small businesses--many of
which are owned by minorities and women--are responsible for more than half of the jobs in
the country today.
If the FCC moves ahead with its net neutrality plan the consequences will be severe. Their
plan will have a chilling influence on our democracy, cut away at our connections with each
other, and limit economic opportunities for the future.
The FCC claims its plan is necessary because consumer protections might deter investment
in network infrastructure. But this narrow-minded view of the public interest can lead to cruel
results. I hope that the Commissioners really listen to the millions of comments that are
coming in from around the nation, and reconsider their dangerous plan to eliminate net
neutrality.
This is not only an oversight hearing today -- the Republican Majority recently surprised us all
with a 42-page reauthorization bill that had absolutely no Democratic input. This bill is
flawed. It slashes $18 million from the FCC's budget -- the same agency that is having
issues keeping its website up and running. This is not serious legislation, and it does not
bode well for any serious legislation being developed by the majority of this subcommittee on
any major communications issues.

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