Grassley accuses FCC of reneging on offer to meet over LightSquared

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) accused the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Wednesday of ignoring his requests to meet with senior staffers over the agency's decision to grant wireless startup LightSquared a conditional waiver last year.

After tests showed LightSquared's planned 4G network would interfere with GPS devices, the agency pulled its waiver and has now moved to block the network. 

But Grassley is questioning why the FCC allowed LightSquared to get as far as it did in the regulatory process.

He noted that FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski promised in October that he would "continue to make staff available to discuss this matter further" with Grassley or his staff at their "convenience."

"That turned out to be an empty offer," Grassley said on Wednesday.

Grassley first wanted to question Paul de Sa, who has now left the agency. Grassley then requested a meeting with Josh Gottheimer, but the senator said the FCC never responded to his request. 

"It’s unfortunate that this agency operates as a closed shop when the public’s business ought to be public. It adds insult to injury to promise openness and fail to fulfill the offer," Grassley said. 

He has promised to block President Obama's two FCC nominees until the agency releases its internal records on LightSquared.

FCC officials have noted that agencies usually only respond to inquiries from lawmakers who serve on committees with jurisdiction over them.

Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees the FCC, requested infromation from the agency about LightSquared last week.

FCC officials say they plan to comply with that request.

"The good news is a key House committee is trying to shed light on the FCC’s thinking on LightSquared," Grassley said. "Some transparency might be required of the agency after all.”

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