Congress probes FCC Commissioner’s departure to Comcast

Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) chairs the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, a key investigative body of Congress. This afternoon, Issa finally decided that the committee would probe FCC Commissioner Meredith Attwell Baker's move from the FCC to a top government affairs job at Comcast/NBC Universal.

In a letter sent to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, Issa noted that Baker's departure has “generated questions” due to the fact that Baker recently voted to allow Comcast to buy a majority stake in NBC. Based on Baker's own statements about the process which led to the job offer, Issa says that "it does not appear [Baker] violated any of her legal or ethical obligations in accepting a position with Comcast.”

Still, “because only a short time has passed since the Comcast-NBC Universal merger, it is imperative that the public can trust the integrity of the process." To that end, Issa wants answers to five basic questions in order to “gain a better understanding of the rules that govern Commissioner Baker's departure."

• What regulations and FCC policies/procedures apply to Commissioner Baker's departure?
• What actions did Commissioner Baker and the FCC take to ensure these rules were followed?
• On what date did Commissioner Baker notify the FCC General Counsel's office that she was engaged in communications with Comcast about a possible job opportunity?
• On what date did Commissioner Baker begin to recuse herself from matters and/or proceedings before the FCC?
• For which matters/proceedings currently pending before the FCC has Commissioner Baker recused herself?

Answers are due by May 31.

Free Press, which has pushed back hard against Baker's job transition, praised the letter. "We hope this letter is just the start - and that Congress will launch a serious inquiry that goes beyond the five basic questions asked here," said CEO Craig Aaron. "As Chairman Issa suggests, the American people deserve to know whether their public servants are truly serving them, or just auditioning for industry jobs. We hope Chairman Issa gives them the investigation they’ve demanded, and the one they deserve."