Ex Parte Under Review

The Federal Communications Commission will hold a staff workshop at 10 a.m. on October 28 to explore possible revisions to the FCC’s current ex parte rules. The stated aim is to increase transparency of the Commission’s actions, while at the same time not scaring regulated interests away from sharin

The Federal Communications Commission will hold a staff workshop at 10 a.m. on October 28 to explore possible revisions to the FCC’s current ex parte rules.  The stated aim is to increase transparency of the Commission’s actions, while at the same time not scaring regulated interests away from sharing information that they have traditionally shared in closed-door meetings.

This workshop follows an internal study of the current ex parte rules by FCC staff which identified a number of areas in which the current rules might be improved or updated.  The workshop, which is open to the public, will also explore new issues posed by the increasing use of internet-based media for communication.  Panelists will provide their perspectives on the successes and shortcomings of the current rules and suggest alternatives to better balance the goals of fairness, openness, and efficiency. The moderators of the event are FCC General Counsel Austin Schlick, FCC Associate General Counsel Joel Kaufman, and MaryBeth Richards, Special Counsel to the Chairman for FCC Reform.