[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 646 Introduced in House (IH)]







107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 646

To establish the Commission to Study the Structure and Reauthorization 
               of the Federal Communications Commission.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 14, 2001

    Mr. Gillmor (for himself, Mr. Deal of Georgia, Mr. Ehrlich, Mr. 
 Largent, Mr. Pickering, Mr. Stearns, and Mrs. Wilson) introduced the 
   following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and 
                                Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To establish the Commission to Study the Structure and Reauthorization 
               of the Federal Communications Commission.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Federal Communications Commission 
Reform Act''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT.

    There is established the Commission to Study the Structure and 
Reauthorization of the Federal Communications Commission (in this Act 
referred to as the ``Commission'').

SEC. 3. DUTIES OF COMMISSION.

    The Commission shall study and report on the organizational 
structure of the Federal Communications Commission, with an emphasis on 
determining--
            (1) whether that structure should be changed to reflect the 
        current state of telecommunications, including the rise of the 
        Internet; and
            (2) whether there should be a reduction in the number of 
        commissioners.

SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP.

    (a) Number and Appointment.--The Commission shall be composed of 7 
members, appointed as follows:
            (1) 2 members appointed by the Speaker of the House of 
        Representatives in consultation with the Chairman of the 
        Committee on Commerce of the House of Representatives and in 
        accordance with subsection (c).
            (2) 2 members appointed by the majority leader of the 
        Senate in consultation with the Chairman of the Committee on 
        Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and in 
        accordance with subsection (c).
            (3) 2 members appointed by the minority leader of the House 
        of Representatives in consultation with the ranking minority 
        member of the Committee on Commerce of the House of 
        Representatives.
            (4) 1 member appointed by the Chairman and ranking minority 
        member of the Committee on Commerce of the House of 
        Representatives acting jointly.
    (b) Appointments Deadline.--All appointments under subsection (a) 
shall be made not later than 45 days after the date of the enactment of 
this Act.
    (c) Appointments of Former Commissioners.--The Speaker of the House 
of Representatives and the majority leader of the Senate shall each, 
under subsection (a), appoint as a member of the Commission at least 1 
former commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission.
    (d) Terms.--
            (1) In general.--Each member shall be appointed for the 
        life of the Commission.
            (2) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled 
        in the manner in which the original appointment was made.
    (e) Basic Pay.--
            (1) Rates of pay.--Members shall receive no pay for their 
        service on the Commission.
            (2) Travel expenses.--Each member shall receive travel 
        expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in 
        accordance with applicable provisions under subchapter I of 
        chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code.
    (f) Quorum.--4 members shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser 
number may hold hearings.

SEC. 5. POWERS OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Hearings and Sessions.--The Commission may, for the purpose of 
carrying out this Act, hold hearings, sit and act at times and places, 
take testimony, and receive evidence as the Commission considers 
appropriate.
    (b) Powers of Members and Agents.--Any member or agent of the 
Commission may, if authorized by the Commission, take any action that 
the Commission is authorized to take by this section.
    (c) Obtaining Official Data.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to section 552 of title 5, United 
        States Code, popularly known as the Freedom of Information Act, 
        and section 552a of title 5, United States Code, popularly 
        known as the Privacy Act of 1974, the Commission may secure 
        directly from any department or agency of the United States 
        information necessary to enable it to carry out this Act. Upon 
        request of the Commission, the head of such a department or 
        agency shall furnish that information to the Commission.
            (2) Interviews.--Each commissioner of the Federal 
        Communications Commission shall, upon request of the 
        Commission, provide the Commission a reasonable opportunity to 
        interview such commissioner for the purpose of facilitating the 
        work of the Commission.
    (d) Gifts, Bequests, and Devises.--The Commission may accept, use, 
and dispose of gifts, bequests, or devises of services or property, 
both real and personal, for the purpose of facilitating the work of the 
Commission.
    (e) Mails.--The Commission may use the United States mails in the 
same manner and under the same conditions as other departments and 
agencies of the United States.
    (f) Administrative Support Services.--Upon the request of the 
Commission, the Administrator of General Services shall provide to the 
Commission, on a reimbursable basis, the administrative support 
services necessary for the Commission to carry out its responsibilities 
under this Act.
    (g) General Accounting Office Assistance.--Upon the request of the 
Commission, the Comptroller General of the United States shall assist 
the Commission in carrying out this Act.
    (h) Contract Authority.--The Commission may contract with and 
compensate government and private agencies or persons for supplies and 
other services.

SEC. 6. REPORT.

    Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Commission shall transmit to the Congress a report on the 
findings and conclusions of the Commission.

SEC. 7. TERMINATION.

    The Commission shall terminate upon transmission of the report 
required by section 6.
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