Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., expressed some concerns to...
Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., expressed some concerns to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler about companies using exemptions from the agency’s ex parte rules in its consideration of the proposed Comcast/Time Warner Cable and AT&T/DirecTV deals. Exemptions may be given if parties…
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fear reprisal, as Heller noted. “The bar for such exemptions must be high,” Heller told Wheeler in a letter Wednesday. “When orders that have significant impact on the industry are crafted based on information provided in secret and go unchallenged, I believe it can undermine the effectiveness of that order.” He asked Wheeler to say whether such exempt ex parte presentations have been given and if so, how many. “Please provide the specific justification for each instance,” Heller said. He also asked about “the role the FCC played in this action” and whether it “directly influenced granting an exemption” and if so, why. The FCC declined comment.