[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 25 (Thursday, February 25, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S798-S799]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. SNOWE (for herself and Mr. Kaufman):
  S. 3042. A bill to provide for a study by the National Academy of 
Sciences on the technical policy decisions and technical personnel at 
the Federal Communications Commission; to the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation.
  Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I rise today, along with Senator Kaufman, 
to introduce legislation that puts a greater focus on efforts to 
improve the technical resources and decision-making process at the 
Federal Communications Commission. The bill proposes a study by the 
National Academy of Sciences on the technical policy decision-making 
process and the availability of technical personnel at FCC.
  Over the past several years, there have been concerns voiced by the 
technical community and even Commissioners themselves about the lack of 
technical resources and expertise at the Federal Communications 
Commission, FCC. It is for good reason: in 1948, the FCC had 720 
engineers on staff; today, it has fewer than 300--an astonishing 62 
percent reduction--even though the FCC now must face technical issues 
concerning the Internet, advanced wireless communications, and 
broadband. Also, FCC officials have recently acknowledged a shortage of 
network engineers and that a large number of experienced engineers are 
eligible to retire within the next few years.
  Yet, communications technologies are becoming increasingly complex--
evolving from the traditional circuit-switched phone networks to 
packet-based dynamic-routing high-bandwidth data networks. The need to 
thoroughly address these issues challenges staff and leads to delays or 
even inaction in technical rulemakings since the Commission doesn't 
have the appropriate resources for timely technical evaluation and 
decisionmaking.

  Technical proceedings, including those to authorize new technologies, 
have been dismally slow--typically taking 2-5 years for approval--
creating a bottleneck for innovation and competition.
  A December 2009 report by the Government Accountability Office, GAO-
10-10-79, reaffirms these concerns and provides additional evidence of 
the need for such a study. The GAO concluded that ``weaknesses in FCC's 
processes for collecting and using information also raise concerns 
regarding the transparency and informed nature of FCC's decisionmaking 
process.'' Furthermore, the report found the ``FCC faces challenges in 
ensuring it has the expertise needed to adapt to a changing 
marketplace.''
  With the rapid advancement of technologies and innovation within the 
telecommunications industry, the FCC must be better equipped and more 
agile to address the ever-changing technical landscape from a 
regulatory perspective. If it isn't, our Nation's technical leadership 
in this area will continue to erode and it will be even more difficult 
to lay the proper policy foundation necessary to meet future 
telecommunications needs.
  To better examine these significant issues and make tangible 
recommendations toward a comprehensive solution, this legislation 
proposes a study by the National Academy of Sciences on the technical 
policy decisionmaking process and the availability of technical 
personnel at FCC. Specifically, the study would include an examination 
of the FCC's technical policy decisionmaking, current technical 
personnel staffing levels, and agency recruiting and hiring processes 
of technical staff and engineers, and recommendations to improve these 
areas. The study would provide tangible and specific proposals to 
streamline processes and rulemakings as well as how the FCC can be more 
competitive in hiring the required technical personnel to make it more 
effective. The bill authorizes $1 million over a 2-year period to 
conduct this comprehensive technical study.
  This bill takes a step towards ensuring the Commission has the 
adequate resources and proper technical decisionmaking processes in 
place to be a more effective agency. This is absolutely critical given 
how rapidly technologies are changing and the implications that 
regulation could have on the underlying technical catalysts of 
innovation. It is also critical to overall reform at the Commission 
because in

[[Page S799]]

order to properly regulate communications, the FCC must be deeply 
knowledgeable of both the legal and technical aspects of the issues 
before it. That is why I sincerely hope that my colleagues join Senator 
Kaufman and me in supporting this important legislation.
  Mr. KAUFMAN. Mr. President, I am proud to cosponsor a bill Senator 
Snowe introduced today to conduct a study on the technical policy 
decision-making process and the availability of technical personnel at 
the Federal Communications Commission, or FCC.
  Professionals in the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering, 
and mathematics have always been our Nation's problem solvers. They 
help us solve great challenges in energy, health, security, and 
transportation. Their innovation creates jobs, jobs that will continue 
to lead us on the path to economic recovery.
  Still, the number of STEM professionals in some of our government's 
most critical agencies has been declining. In 1948, the FCC had 720 
engineers on staff. Today, while communications technologies have 
become increasingly complex, it has fewer than 300 engineers. Over the 
years, there has been a shift in the FCC from hiring engineers to 
hiring professional staff, resulting in a shortage of network 
engineers. What is more, a high proportion of these experienced 
engineers are eligible to retire within the next few years. That means 
that, as communications technology continues to change the way we 
engage our world, the FCC may face a critical shortage.
  This legislation proposes a study by the National Academy of Sciences 
to address these issues. Specifically, the study will examine the FCC's 
technical policy decisionmaking, including if the FCC has the adequate 
resources, processes, and personnel in place to evaluate properly and 
to account for the technical aspects of the Commission's rulemaking 
process. It will also examine the current technical personnel staffing 
levels and FCC recruiting and hiring processes of technical staff and 
engineers. Finally, the study will provide recommendations to improve 
each of these areas.
  It is critical that we include engineers in our Nation's technical 
policy and decision making, at the FCC and across the government. I am 
pleased that this study will explore the implications and offer 
recommendations for the decline of engineers in this important agency 
and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting Senator Snowe's 
efforts.
                                 ______