HispanicBusiness

An amendment proposed by U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., has passed muster in the house. His "FCC FOIA Amendement" was adopted and included in H.R. 3309, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Reform Act of 2012.

Diaz-Balart's amendment would require the FCC to implement new policies and practices to promote greater public disclosure of how the agency handles the Freedom of Information Act ("FOIA") requests.


"My amendment was in response to overwhelming data demonstrating the FCC's apparent lack of transparency and openness with the American people. In FY 2011, the FCC denied more than 46 percent of the FOIA requests it processed, compared to about 7 percent across the entire federal government.



"President Obama and Chairman Genachowski have publicly stated that they will be the most open and transparent administration in history, which is a goal I think we all share," Diaz-Balart said.



"Requiring the FCC to take additional steps will help bring the agency in line with its responsibilities for openness, transparency, and public disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act," he added.