FCC Inquiry Into Administration Net Neutrality Influence 'First Step,' Johnson Says
Senate Homeland Security Chairman Ron Johnson, R-Wis., hasn't prejudged whether the White House wrongly influenced the FCC’s net neutrality proceeding, he told us Tuesday. Johnson pressured FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler Monday about whether the White House interfered, sending a letter…
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to Wheeler (see 1502090049). “It’s kind of the first step,” Johnson said. “But we still want to find out what extent his change of heart was actually his own or was it influenced by the White House. It’s supposed to be an independent agency. So we’re trying to find the information we want to find, the communication between himself and the White House, his agency and the White House, and see whether this truly was an independent act.” Johnson would defer any possible hearings or legislation, preferring to wait until the Feb. 20 deadline for his inquiry: “I’ll give the chairman a chance to respond.” Johnson isn't ruling out any actions, instead following the facts, a Republican Senate staffer told us. She predicted the FCC will face court scrutiny and changes under future FCC chairmen, creating uncertainty that will hurt the marketplace. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., was familiar with the inquiries in both the House and Senate letters and has also accused the administration of involving itself in the net neutrality debates. It’s “certainly within their purview to ask questions and I think they just want to get some answers,” Thune told us Tuesday of the letters from Johnson and House Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah. Johnson backs the legislative route Thune has outlined, the GOP staffer said, saying the FCC should defer to Congress.