The FCC on Monday denied an application by Warren Communications ...
The FCC on Monday denied an application by Warren Communications News under the Freedom of Information Act for speedy release of the documents that landed Burson-Marsteller its $3.5 million contract to provide the commission with DTV consumer education support…
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services (CED May 12 p1). The commission now has until June 10 to decide whether to release the documents Warren is seeking under the FOIA, including copies of Burson-Marsteller’s performance work statement that was at the heart of its contract proposal. Warren is the publisher of Consumer Electronics Daily. In denying its application for expedited processing, the commission said Warren failed to demonstrate how speedy release of the Burson-Marsteller records “is a matter of current exigency to the American public.” According to the FCC, “while undoubtedly there is public interest in the DTV transition, there is no demonstrated public interest in the Burson- Marsteller documents,” it said. Granting “expedited processing to this FOIA request would open the door to expediting all FOIA requests involving DTV,” the commission found. A Washington public relations firm, Weber Merritt, has filed a formal protest at the Government Accountability Office alleging that the FCC improperly awarded Burson- Marsteller the contract that should have gone to a small- business vendor. A GAO decision on the protest is due Aug. 17, well after Burson-Marsteller will have finished its contract work for the FCC.