FCC insider: This place is hell; silent protest planned by staff

[Ichingcarpenter]

A Federal Communications Commission employee called me on Friday and said that this Tuesday, the third anniversary of Kevin Martin's tenure as Chair of the FCC, at least some staff will arrive at work dressed in black. A "silent but expressive protest" is what they're calling the move. What for? I asked. "Because this place is hell," came the reply.


Some background: Last week Ars Technica published my story about how John Dingell's House Energy and Commerce Committee has demanded detailed FCC records related to over a dozen super-sensitive FCC issues and policies. We're talking e-mails, personnel records, letters of inquiry, meeting minutes, the works.

Shortly after the piece appeared that I got this e-mail: "In regard to Dingell's latest investigatory letter sent to the FCC March 12," it began, "just heard from some old colleagues at the FCC that they are all happily working on meeting the requests in this letter. And that the FCC staff are all going to be wearing black on Tuesday, March 18, as a sign of protest on the third anniversary of Martin being Chairman."

I was skeptical, and wrote back asking if this e-mailer could provide me with the name of at least one of these staffers. Soon I got a name and some contact info. I did some background work and requested an interview. The individual in question called two hours later. I asked some pretty detailed questions of this person, who requested anonymity. After our conversation, I came away convinced that this is on the level.

FCC insider: This place is hell;

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080316-fcc-insider-this-place-is-hell-silent-protest-planned.html


Congress dons rubber glove, prepares probe of FCC chairman
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080313-congress-dons-rubber-glove-prepares-probe-of-fcc-chairman.html

[aquart]

1. Thanks for the info.