FCC to appear before House Republican-led committee

House of Representatives Subcommittee on Communications and Technology

Potentially stormy hearing scheduled for July 9

WASHINGTON, July 3, 2024 – Sparks could fly on Capitol Hill next week as leaders of the Democratic-controlled Federal Communications Commission are scheduled to appear before a Republican-controlled House subcommittee.

All five FCC commissioners were planned to appear before the House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology on July 9 to present an overview of the agency’s budget for fiscal year 2025.

FCC under the chairmanship of the chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel requested $448 million for fiscal year 2025, but the House Appropriations Committee reduced that amount to $416 million, which would still be an increase of $26 million over fiscal year 2024.

Rosenworcel wanted the budget increase to allow for more staff, saying the agency’s current staffing level is the lowest it has been in 20 years.

However, the hearing could also address several controversial issues, such as the agency’s rules on digital discrimination and net neutrality, which are currently being litigated in federal court.

Rosenworcel’s term has coincided with an increase in regulation of the industry, leading some to expect conflict with the Republican-majority House of Representatives.

Rosenworcel will almost certainly answer questions about the agency’s response to the Supreme Court’s June 28 decision Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo in which the court annulled The Chevron Doctrine that regulatory agencies have relied on for decades to gain court approval for their regulations.

The FCC’s net neutrality rules, adopted in April, were challenged by ISP organizations in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in Cincinnati. The ISPs asked the court to stay the rules, and the motion is still pending.

The FCC’s request to transfer the case to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in Washington was denied by the Sixth Circuit just hours after the Supreme Court issued its ruling. Loper Light.

The Sixth Circuit asked all parties, including the FCC and ISP organizations, to file briefs by July 8 assessing the impact Loper Light the case concerns a request by an internet service provider to suspend supplies.