I

106TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. R. 5570

To establish the Commission to Study the Structure and Reauthorization

of the Federal Communications Commission.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

OCTOBER 26, 2000

Mr. GILLMOR (for himself, Mr. TAUZIN, Mr. OXLEY, Mr. BLUNT, Mr. DEAL

of Georgia, Mr. EHRLICH, Mr. FOSSELLA, Mr. LARGENT, Mr. PICKERING, Mr. STEARNS, and Mrs. WILSON) introduced the following bill;

which was referred to the Committee on Commerce

A BILL

To establish the Commission to Study the Structure and

Reauthorization of the Federal Communications Commission.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Federal Communica5 tions Commission Reform Act’’.

6 SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT.

7 There is established the Commission to Study the

8 Structure and Reauthorization of the Federal Commu-
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1 nications Commission (in this Act referred to as the

2 ‘‘Commission’’).

3 SEC. 3. DUTIES OF COMMISSION.

4 The Commission shall study and report on the orga5 nizational structure of the Federal Communications Com6 mission, with an emphasis on determining—

7 (1) whether that structure should be changed to

8 reflect the current state of telecommunications, in9 cluding the rise of the Internet; and

10 (2) whether there should be a reduction in the

11 number of commissioners.

12 SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP.

13 (a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commission

14 shall be composed of 7 members, appointed as follows:

15 (1) 2 members appointed by the Speaker of the

16 House of Representatives in consultation with the

17 Chairman of the Committee on Commerce of the

18 House of Representatives and in accordance with

19 subsection (c).

20 (2) 2 members appointed by the majority leader

21 of the Senate in consultation with the Chairman of

22 the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Trans23 portation of the Senate and in accordance with sub24 section (c).
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1 (3) 2 members appointed by the minority leader

2 of the House of Representatives in consultation with

3 the ranking minority member of the Committee on

4 Commerce of the House of Representatives.

5 (4) 1 member appointed by the Chairman and

6 ranking minority member of the Committee on Com7 merce of the House of Representatives acting jointly.

8 (b) APPOINTMENTS DEADLINE.—All appointments

9 under subsection (a) shall be made not later than 45 days

10 after the date of the enactment of this Act.

11 (c) APPOINTMENTS OF FORMER COMMISSIONERS.—

12 The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the ma13 jority leader of the Senate shall each, under subsection

14 (a), appoint as a member of the Commission at least 1

15 former commissioner of the Federal Communications

16 Commission.

17 (d) TERMS.—

18 (1) IN GENERAL.—Each member shall be ap19 pointed for the life of the Commission.

20 (2) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Commission

21 shall be filled in the manner in which the original

22 appointment was made.

23 (e) BASIC PAY.—

24 (1) RATES OF PAY.—Members shall receive no

25 pay for their service on the Commission.
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1 (2) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each member shall

2 receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of

3 subsistence, in accordance with applicable provisions

4 under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United

5 States Code.

6 (f) QUORUM.—4 members shall constitute a quorum,

7 but a lesser number may hold hearings.

8 SEC. 5. POWERS OF COMMISSION.

9 (a) HEARINGS AND SESSIONS.—The Commission

10 may, for the purpose of carrying out this Act, hold hear11 ings, sit and act at times and places, take testimony, and

12 receive evidence as the Commission considers appropriate.

13 (b) POWERS OF MEMBERS AND AGENTS.—Any mem14 ber or agent of the Commission may, if authorized by the

15 Commission, take any action that the Commission is au16 thorized to take by this section.

17 (c) OBTAINING OFFICIAL DATA.—

18 (1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to section 552 of

19 title 5, United States Code, popularly known as the

20 Freedom of Information Act, and section 552a of

21 title 5, United States Code, popularly known as the

22 Privacy Act of 1974, the Commission may secure di23 rectly from any department or agency of the United

24 States information necessary to enable it to carry

25 out this Act. Upon request of the Commission, the
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1 head of such a department or agency shall furnish

2 that information to the Commission.

3 (2) INTERVIEWS.—Each commissioner of the

4 Federal Communications Commission shall, upon re5 quest of the Commission, provide the Commission a

6 reasonable opportunity to interview such commis7 sioner for the purpose of facilitating the work of the

8 Commission.

9 (d) GIFTS, BEQUESTS, AND DEVISES.— The Com10 mission may accept, use, and dispose of gifts, bequests,

11 or devises of services or property, both real and personal,

12 for the purpose of facilitating the work of the Commission.

13 (e) MAILS.—The Commission may use the United

14 States mails in the same manner and under the same con15 ditions as other departments and agencies of the United

16 States.

17 (f) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES.—Upon the

18 request of the Commission, the Administrator of General

19 Services shall provide to the Commission, on a reimburs20 able basis, the administrative support services necessary

21 for the Commission to carry out its responsibilities under

22 this Act.

23 (g) GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE ASSISTANCE.—

24 Upon the request of the Commission, the Comptroller
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1 General of the United States shall assist the Commission

2 in carrying out this Act.

3 (h) CONTRACT AUTHORITY.—The Commission may

4 contract with and compensate government and private

5 agencies or persons for supplies and other services.

6 SEC. 6. REPORT.

7 Not later than 6 months after the date of the enact8 ment of this Act, the Commission shall transmit to the

9 Congress a report on the findings and conclusions of the

10 Commission.

11 SEC. 7. TERMINATION.

12 The Commission shall terminate upon transmission

13 of the report required by section 6.

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