COPPS PUSH FOR MORE-INFORMATIVE EX PARTES FELL SHORT

摘要

More thorough FCC ex parte filings, including disclosure of who抯 being represented at meetings, were sought in a draft rulemaking notice circulated by Commissioner Michael Copps before he stepped down as acting chairman, commission officials said. The draft notice seeks comment on requiring that ex partes be more detailed than mentioning who attended a meeting and which rulemaking was discussed, they said. The item is seen by some inside and outside the commission as among efforts to make the FCC more open. Several public interest groups and other lobbying groups said they would like more detailed ex parte filings. But Commissioner Robert McDowell has questioned the need for new ex parte rules, saying the FCC need only do a better job of enforcing those already on the books, commission officials said.