FCC expects to face queries on AT&T-BellSouth merger

WASHINGTON — The Republican-majority Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is getting its first taste of what life will be like under a Democratic-controlled Congress.

This morning, the five commissioners are to appear before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. And on Feb. 15, they will appear before a House subcommittee on telecommunications and the Internet.

The House hearing is shaping up to be the most combative.

On Wednesday, Democratic Reps. John Dingell and Ed Markey released a letter detailing a number of questions they have for the commissioners, including several regarding what they see as commission Chairman Kevin Martin's apparent lack of will to enforce a series of conditions that allowed AT&T's $86 billion takeover of BellSouth.

Today's hearing before the Senate committee is expected to cover media ownership, broadband policy, the AT&T merger, network neutrality, violent content on TV and universal service.