Oec-21-11 02:10pm From-House EneriY &Commerce Committee
FRED UPTON. MICHIGAN
CHAIRMAN
202-225-1919
T-226 P.002/006 F-503
HENRY A. WAXMAN. CALIFORNIA
RANKING MEMBER
ONE HUNDRED TWELFTH CONGRESS
<tongreS'S' of tbe -mtntteb~tateS'
jf)oU$e of l\.epresentatibes
COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND COMMERCE
2125 RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON, DC 20515-6115
M~jornv{20l1 225-2927
Minority {2021 225-3641
December 21,2011
The Honorable Julius Genachowski
Chairman
Federal Communications Commission
Room: 8-B201
445 12
th
Street, S. W.
Washingron, D.C. 20554
Dear Chairman Genachowski:
Thank you for responding this past summer to our June 3, 2011lener regarding the
Commission's workload. As we suggested in that lener, we are interested in the work the
Commission has done since July, especially with regard to the Commission's backlog of
petitions, complaints, and license applications.
We have anached ro this letter a series ofquestions in that vein. We respectfully request
that you provide a written response no later than close ofbusiness Monday, January 9, 2012.
Ifyou have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact Mr. Neil Fried or Ms. Stacy Cline at
(202) 225-2927.
Sincerely,
~~1-~+
GregWaldC~
Chairman
Subcomminee on Communications
and Technology
Cli4VL<7L~_~...,e.-- 
Ch~
Subcommittee on Oversight
and Investigations
cc: The Honorable Henry A. Waxman, Ranking Member
1703
Oec-21-11 02:10pm From-House Ener,y &Commerce Committee
Letter to the Honorable Julius Genachowski
Page 2
202-225-1919 T-22S P.003/00S F-503
The Honorable Anna G. Eshoo, Ranking Member,
Subcommittee on Communications and Technology
The Honorable Diana DeGette, Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
Commissioner Michael J. Copps
Commissioner Robert M. McDowell
ComInissioner Mignon Clyburn
Attachment
.'
Oec-21-11 02:10pm From-House EneriY &Commerce Committee 202-225-1919 T-22S P.004/00S F-503
ATTACHMENT
There is growing consensus mat Federal Communications Commission (FCC) processes need to
be reformed. Under bom Democratic and Republican chalrmen, me FCC has fallen into practices
that weaken decision-making and jeopardize public confidence. The data reported to me
Committee on Energy and Commerce (Committee) in July 201 I demonstrated mat there have
been substantial improvements in the handling ofme Commission's workload since Chairman
Genachowskijoined the CommissIon. Nevertheless, the Commission still faces significant
challenges in its work, including a significant backlog ofunanswered petitions and unheard
consumer complaints. For example, me Commission had 5,328 petitions, more than a million
consumer complaints, and 4,185 license applications that had been sitting for more man two
years as ofJuly 2011. This letter seeks updated data regarding me FCC's current workflow.
1. To help me Committee better understand the FCC's current workload and backlog, please
provide the total number ofitems currently pending. Please include all petitions,
applications, complaints, and requests pending before the FCC, including petitions for
waiver, petitions for stay, petitions for declaratory ruling, applications for license
renewal, applications for transfer oflines, applications for review, requests for review,
etc. Please categorize mese items by the Bureau primarily responsible for action and the
amount oftime that has elapsed since each item was fIled with the FCC using the
following table.
<6mos. 6 mos. - 2 yrs. 2 yrs. - 5 yrs. > 5 yrs.
Consumer & Gov't (CGB)
International (IB)
Media(MB)
I
I
Public Safety (PSHSB)
I
Wireless (WTB)
Wireline (WCB)
i
Other (OET, OSP, etc.)
Oec-21-11 02:10pm From-House EneriY &Commerce Committee
202-225-1919 T-226 P.005/006 F-503
2. License applications, and especially renewals, are often a routine process. How many
license applications and renewals are currently pending at the Commission? Please
categorize these items by the'Bureau primarily responsible for action and the amount of
time that has elapsed since each item was filed with the FCC using the following table.
<6mos. 6 mos. - 2 yrs. 2 yrs. - 5 yrs. > 5 yrs.
Consumer & Gov't (CGB)
International (m)
Media(MB)
Public Safety (PSHSB)
Wireless (WTB)
Wireline (WCB)
Other (OET, OSP, etc.)
i
3. We understand that the Commission receives thousands ofcomplaints from consumers
each year. We are interested in how the Commission processes these complaints, and the
subject matter ofthese complaints. Please provide the number ofcomplaints currently
pending before the FCC. Please categorize these items by the Bureau primarily
responsible for action, the amount oftime that has elapsed since each item was filed with
the FCC, and the subject matter ofthe complaint using the following tables.
<6 mos. 6 mos. - 2 yrs. 2 yrs. - 5 yrs.
i> 5 yrs.
Consumer & Gov't (CGB)
International (ill)
Media(MB)
I
Public Safety (PSHSB)
Wireless (WTB)
Wireline (WCB)
I
Other (OET, aSP, etc.)
2
00c-21-11 02:10pm From-Houso Enorgy &Commorco Committoo
202-225-1919 T-22S P.OOS/OOS F-503
<6 mos. 6 mos. - 2 yrs. 2 yrs. - 5 yrs. > 5 yrs.
Indecency
Indecency-Safe Harbor
Indecency-Cable
Junk Fax
Slamming
TCPA
4. By definition, a petition for reconsideration or an application for review asks the FCC to
reconsider a decision it has already made. As such, the FCC should be able to review and
act on such petitions and applications relatively quickly. Moreover, parties often cannot
obtainjudicial review ofan FCC decision while a petition for reconsideration or
application for review is pending. How many petitions for reconsideration and
applications for review are currently pending at the Commission? Please categorize these
items by the Bureau primarily responsible for action and the amount oftime that has
elapsed since each item was filed with the FCC using the following table.
<6 mos. 6 mos. - 2 yrs. 2 yrs. - 5 yrs. > 5 yrs.
Consumer & Gov't (CGB)
International (IB)
Media(MB)
Public Safety (PSHSB)
Wireless (WTB)
Wireline (WeB)
Otller (OET, asp, etc.)
i
5. How many dockets are currently open at the Commission? Howmany ofthese dockets
have pending items in them that the Commission has not yet addressed? How many
dockets have been inactive for more than six months? Two years? Five years?
3
Dec-2l-11 02:10pm From-House EnerlY &Commerce Committee
202-225-1919 T-226 P.G01/006 F-503
Committee on Energy and Commerce
Republican Office
U.S. House ofRepresentatives
2125 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: (202) 225-2927
Fax: (202) 225-1919
To: Mr. Greg Guice, 'Director of Legislative Affairs, Federal Communications Commission for
Chairman Julius Genachowski, Federal Communications Commission
From: Rep. Fred Upton, Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce
Fax: (202) 418-2806
Date: December 21, 2011
Phone:
Pages: 6 (Including cover)