Fergie's Tech Blog

Citizen Groups Cry Foul Over FCC Vote

Roy Mark writes on internetnews.com:

Five consumer and public-interest groups wrote the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Tuesday opposing Commissioner Robert McDowell's participation in the AT&T-BellSouth merger vote expected this month.

McDowell, a former lobbyist for a trade group opposed to the $80 million merger, recused himself from the vote in order to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest. But at Chairman Kevin Martin's request, the agency's lawyers have cleared McDowell to vote.

The Consumers Union, Consumer Federation of America, Free Press, Public Knowledge and U.S. PIRG said in their letter that Martin's attempt to reverse McDowell's recusal "is a violation of the public trust, sacrificing a valid process of good-faith negotiations among participating commissioners for political expediency and the convenience of the merging parties."

The groups said they wrote the letter because the FCC asked AT&T and BellSouth for their views on McDowell's participation but did not ask for public input. Both AT&T and BellSouth said they are not opposed to McDowell's participation.

posted by Fergie @ 12/13/2006 12:00:00 PM