Heller Reintroduces FCC Consolidated Reporting Act, Eager to Strike Deal with Democrats
Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., reintroduced one of two primary promised FCC process overhaul bills Monday -- S-253, which the longer title said is a “bill to amend the Communications Act of 1943 [sic] to consolidate the reporting obligations of the…
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Federal Communications Commission in order to improve congressional oversight and reduce reporting burdens.” It has no co-sponsors listed and was referred to the Commerce Committee, where Heller is a member. A Republican Senate staffer confirmed to us that this is the FCC Consolidated Reporting Act and emphasized Heller's desire to strike a deal with Democrats to advance the bill. The staffer framed it as a simple bill about good governance and said it could have real traction in this Congress. The House approved a companion version of the bill last Congress, but it never advanced in the Senate. Heller didn't solicit co-sponsors, nor is the reporting bill intended to affect FCC authorities, the staffer said. Heller emphasized that same point to then-Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., at a markup session of different legislation last fall, referring to potential concern over how the bill affected Telecom Act Section 706. Heller told us in December he planned to consult with House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden, R-Ore., early in the year about their plan to move forward with FCC overhaul legislation (see 1412240031). He and Walden have backed the FCC Consolidated Reporting Act and the FCC Process Reform Act. Walden spokespeople had no immediate comment about possible forthcoming House companion legislation. A spokeswoman for Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., told us in December that FCC reporting and process overhaul legislation would be given “due consideration” this year, citing bipartisan backing in the past for those bills and saying efficient FCC operations would be a committee priority. Heller hasn't issued any news release about S-253, nor has the bill text been released or posted online.