WASHINGTON, DC – Leaders of House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation yesterday urged Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler to release the text of the commission’s draft Open Internet Order ahead of the scheduled vote late next month. Hearings in both the House and Senate on Wednesday confirmed Congressional concern that the text of the order, which is expected to be circulated to commissioners by February 5, will not be seen by Congress, the general public, or stakeholders until after the commission votes on February 26.

“Given the significance of the matter and the strong public participation in the commission’s proceeding to date, we believe the public and industry stakeholders alike should have the opportunity to review the text of any proposed order or rules prior to commission action. Accordingly, we urge you to publicly release the draft text of the Open Internet Order when you circulate it to your fellow commissioners,” wrote House Committee on Energy and Commerce Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.), Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Chairman John Thune (R-S.D.), and House Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden (R-Ore.).

The leaders continued, “Transparency in this matter is particularly vital as so many of the public participants who have expressed an interest in net neutrality have no meaningful access to the proceeding at the commission. Currently, the general public, as well as Congress, is entirely reliant on press reports and generic, high-level statements regarding the status of the proceeding and the content of the rules. Releasing the text allows the public to, at the very least, have an informed opinion and ideally, the opportunity to provide feedback on the proposal the FCC will vote on just over one month from today. Limited access to information is beneficial to no one – not to the consumers directly affected by commission action, not to the industries regulated by the rules, and not to the commissioners seeking to make informed decisions taking public feedback into consideration. …

“We believe publicly releasing the draft text of the full Open Internet item in advance of the Commission vote next month is in the public interest, and we call on you to use your authority to do so.”

To read the full letter, click here.

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