Communications in technology will now come to order and the chair recogs ins herself for five minutes for an Opening Statement and i do want to welcome each and everyone of you obviously a hearing of interest as we have a full room in front of us. And it is our first hearing in 2017 with a fully formed federal Communications Commission as often seems to be the case, the senate takes their dear ever loving time to get things done but im pleased to see that the commission is back up to speed and ill tell you i am pleased that we have five members of this commission and they have different points of view to bring to the discussion on all things telecomrelated and i think thats healthy for the telecommunications and technology industry. And were here today to conduct oversight of the agency which is this subcommittees primary role. It is very important that we fulfill these obligations. Because we have given the fcc a Critical Mission and task to fulfill. From the commissionss Disaster Res
I thank you for that. Today marks the first hearing in the Financial Service and general Government Subcommittee for the 115th congress. This is also my first hearing in my new role as the chair woman of this subcommittee and im honored to be serving. As we begin the important review of the budget request of the fcc we welcome our witnesses. Fcc chairman ajit pai and commissioner clyburn and michael oreilly. We look forward to hearing from you all about the fccs budget requests and the work youre doing to carry out the aenlsgen mission. The commission has requested a total of 322 million. The fccs funding is offset by fees that does not minimize our duty to insure that the agency is operating effectively, and that the funds are being spent responsibly. This is especially important since the fees are passed on to the consumer. The impact is critical in Rural America. Communities in my state of West Virginia have been hard hit by job loss. And decline and creating a major drag on the sta
I think we will go out and start. By Ranking Member senator could still be here shortly. I will go and make my Opening Statement and begin testimony. Thank you all for being here this afternoon. I appreciate it. Id like to thank you for your comments last week about what we need to strike. Today marks the first hearing in the Financial Services and general government to committee for the 115 congress. This is also my first hearing in a new role as chairwoman of the subcommittee. As they began the budget request, welcome our witnesses. Fcc chairman and commissioner clyburn and michael are rightly. We look forward to hearing from you all about the budget request and the work you are doing to carry out the agencys mission. Fiscal year 28 team, requesting a total of 322 million. While funding is offset by fees that do not minimize or need to ensure that the agency is operating effectively in the funds are being sent responsibly. This is especially important since these are passed on direct
Funding level . Problematic changes mr. Pai we have not made any decisions on that score. Were trying to make sure the program works. Mr. Markey you wont make a commitment you wont reduce the funding . Mr. Pai were studying ways to improve mr. Markey ms. Rosenworcel, will you do that . Ms. Rosenworcel it is a successful one and i believe the changes put in place in 2015 have been successful. They have reached schools and students in every state across this country. Mr. Markey mr. Carr, will you commit you wont reduce the funding . Mr. Carr i have an open mind as to what the budget and number should be. Have to make a decision when the record is developed on it. Mr. Markey i havent heard clear commitments and i think thats very troubling to be honest with you. Because this is the democratizing force within our society as each of you made clear you believe that its key for our future. Reducing the fund something not going to help to make sure that every child in our country has access to
DemocratJessica Rosenworcel and brendan carr. This is two and half hours. This hearinge will get underway. Because we have time constraints i will forgo my Opening Statement and ask for unanimous consent to be put into the record and we will proceed directly to introductions that we are going to hear and hopefully to the panel. Senator nelson wants to make an opener and we will do that after we recognize senator roberts, the senior senator from kansas who is here and will open things up this morning. Senator roberts . Sen. Roberts thank you. Thank you Ranking Member nelson. And fellow senators, senator moran. And members of the committee. It is a great privilege for me to introduce a friend, ajit pai , for his reappointment to the federal commission. It is not often i find myself on the side, but i have to imagine that on occasions such as this i must be calmer than you are. [laughter] an. Roberts that is sort of inside story. My staff wrote that. I have no idea what it means. [laughte