GAO Report Slams FCC

eldavojohn writes "The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has made a report available today that was requested a year ago by a Democratic senator that finds the Federal Communications Commissions has been favoring lobbyists a little too much. 'The report says that some people at the commission warn lobbyists when a particular issue is about to come up for a vote. Typically, the commission chairman circulates an item for vote three weeks before a meeting. Under the rules of the FCC, meeting agendas are published one week before a vote is scheduled. Once the agenda is published lobbying is banned. The report says that the two-week window allows lobbyist plenty of time to "maximize their impact."'"

So what's the problem?

[GodfatherofSoul]

If big business wants it, it's obviously good for the American people! The market has spoken!

Dear Chairman Kev

[MillionthMonkey]

The FCC responded to the report saying that it feels its processes are always open and transparent and that Chairman Kevin Martin is looking for ways to make the commissions workings even more transparent and open.

I have a suggestion for you, Kevin: why not post HERE when an issue is about to come up for a vote, instead of keeping it a secret from everyone until it's too late? That would be even more transparent and open than your current strategy of secretly alerting your buddies beforehand with their obvious conflicts of interest while the public is kept in the dark. Someone in the FCC owns too much stock in the industry they're supposed to be regulating.