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NEWS
Federal Communications Commission

News Media Information 202 / 418-0500

445 12th Street, S.W.

Internet: http://www.fcc.gov

Washington, D. C. 20554

TTY: 1-888-835-5322

This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action.
See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:

July 11, 2011
Neil Grace, 202-418-0506
Email: neil.grace@fcc.gov

STATEMENT FROM FCC CHAIRMAN JULIUS GENACHOWSKI ON THE

EXECUTIVE ORDER ON REGULATORY REFORM AND INDEPENDENT AGENCIES

Federal Communications Chairman Julius Genachowski released the following statement on the
Executive Order on regulatory reform and independent agencies on July 11, 2011:
"I welcome the President's Executive Order today. Since my first day as Chairman, I have made
regulatory reform a top priority, improving FCC processes and decisions to support innovation, economic
growth, and America's global competitiveness.
The results have been strong, with robust and growing private investment and innovation throughout the
broadband economy.
Shortly after the President's initial Executive Order, I directed FCC staff to follow the spirit of the Order.
We had already conducted retrospective reviews, and incorporated cost-benefit analysis into our decision-
making.
I am proud of the progress we have achieved over the past two years toward making the FCC a model of
excellence in government. We have repealed more than 50 outdated regulations and identified 25 sets of
outdated data collections for elimination.
We have also removed regulatory restrictions on spectrum use and we moved to bring market-based
incentive auctions to reallocate inefficiently used spectrum. We have taken action to preserve free data
flows and free markets on the Internet, increasing certainty and predictability, and spurring investment in
both applications and infrastructure. And we are reforming universal service funding to remove waste and
inefficiency and incorporate market-based funding mechanisms.
We'll continue to work with all stakeholders on these important matters, consistent with our obligations
as an independent agency."
Actions also include:

Reducing Commission backlogs, including an 89% reduction in satellite licensing applications
and a 30% reduction in broadcast licensing applications;

Involving the FCC's Chief Economist and the agency's expert economists in the early stages of
rulemakings;

Appointing Ruth Milkman as Special Counsel for Innovation in Government, working with our
Chief Economist, General Counsel, and other senior staff on a plan to continue our reform efforts;
and

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Directing the FCC staff to prepare a plan to continue identifying outmoded or counterproductive
rules.
-FCC-

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