Senate to hold FCC oversight hearing

The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee will hold a hearing next Tuesday afternoon to examine the policies of the Federal Communications Commission.

All five commissioners are scheduled to testify.

The Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over the FCC, conducts periodic oversight hearings that can cover a range of topics before the commission.

Last month, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski decided to delay a vote on his proposal to revise media ownership regulations. The proposal has raised the ire of liberal lawmakers, who worry it could lead to more consolidation of media companies. 

The commission is also preparing to auction the airwave licenses of some TV stations to cellphone carriers as part of a plan authorized by Congress last year. 

Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) has argued that the FCC should do more to protect children from indecent TV content. 

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