Times Picayune - FCC Reporting Regulations Eased in Bill Passed by House

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By Bruce Alpert

The U.S. House on Wednesday approved a bill by Rep. Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson, to streamline some federal reporting requirements for communications businesses and regulators. The bill would consolidate eight annual reports into a single biennial report and eliminate some reporting responsibilities all together.

Scalise said current communication law imposes many expensive and unnecessary reports on both industry and the Federal Communication Commission. For example, he said, current law still requires reports on how communications products and technologies impact the telegraph industry.
"We need to reform the heavy hand of government by reducing burdensome regulations and cutting red tape to protect hardworking taxpayers," Scalise said. "The bill will consolidate many FCC reports and streamline the regulatory process so our job creators have a healthier environment to hire and expand. "Too often, Congress puts more harmful laws on the books, but today we are finally taking some off the books."

Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Calif., praised Scalise and other Republicans for working with Democrats to modify the original legislation to ensure that Congress remains on record fostering increased competition to encourage innovation and lower prices in the communications industry. The measure passed by voice vote. It's not clear whether the Senate will take up the legislation.

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