O'Rielly Questions 'Heavy Hand' of FCC Staff, Chairman's Office, in Managing Advisory Committees

reform. One big problem is that the chairman’s office has “absolute and complete power over every aspect of their existence,” O'Rielly said. Individual commissioners are often invited to say a few words, but play no role otherwise, he said. “The membership, selection of the committee chairs, timing of any reports and/or recommendations, and all other aspects of their operations are determined solely by the [FCC] Chairman," he said. "If all of the decision-making is in the hands of the [FCC] Chairman, how can a committee’s outcomes ever be considered bipartisan, or better-yet, nonpartisan and independent?” O’Rielly asked whether participation in the committees is really voluntary. “Of course, members must go through the application process, but failure to be involved means that the committee may proceed down a path that is against a party’s interest,” he said. He also questioned how the committees are managed and the “heavy hand” sometimes used by FCC staff. “Since each advisory committee already has a Commission staff designee, why would bureau chiefs or other Commission staff need to be involved at all?” he asked. “It seems inappropriate and potentially caustic to the proper functioning of the committee, and the ultimate realization of solid recommendations, if non-designated staff question the committee’s decisions, influence the agenda, pose questions of members, judge the possible recommendations, or potentially declare specific outcomes.”