Originally posted at: http://www.commonblog.com/story/2007/10/4/125535/773

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) yesterday released a report that accuses the FCC of leaking information to corporate interests before that info is made public.

When will this end?!

Besides this being a clear violation of agency rules, they are helping those who do not need helping! The telecom firms that the FCC regulates are the ones who have lobbyists swarming all over Washington. The public interest groups like Common Cause and our allies don't have access to this information until it is officially made public. But isn't the FCC supposed to be serving the PUBLIC's interest?

The report was conducted at the request of Representative Edward J. Markey (D-MA), chairman of the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, and focused on the FCC process as the agency sets important rules for the telecommunications industry.

Rep. Markey stated, "The good news is that the FCC has rules against disclosing inside information before everyone knows it publicly. The bad news is that it appears violations of such rules are a daily reality at the FCC. I believe the FCC should take immediate steps to protect the integrity of its rulemaking process. The public deserves to know that these decisions are made on the up-and-up, with no unfair advantage to any one side in these important policy debate."

We concur.