our guest robert mcdowell, and amy schatz of "the wall street journal" is our guest reporter. >> commissioner mcdowell, part of the republican spectrum bill also gives with the white magic is in the bill they suggest all of the unlicensed spectrum in the tv stand should be auctioned off. which seems to stress may be the white spaces issue that's been taken on the fcc for the last few years might be sort of day. where do you stand on this issue? do you think there should continue to use white spaces lacks. >> guest: i've been a longtime strong proponent of unlicensed use of du white spaces anti-white spaces of course other unused tv channels in a particular area. and again it's the same kind of spectrum we talk about public safety. so it's very powerful. called wi-fi on steroids for instance. the possible benefits are fantastic, and so, like wi-fi you a remember before its sf on friday nobody heard of wi-fi but by monday everyone had it. and the same is true of our unlicensed here. the point is when it's unlicensed, that really stimulates a quick build out and a lot of small businesses, entrep

. >> this is c-span's "communicators" program, robert mcdowell, the federal commissioner and amy schatz is our guest reporter. >> commissioner mcdowell, part of the republican spectrum bill deals with the issue of white spaces. in the bill, they suggest that all of the unlicensed spectrums should be auctioned off. which seems to suggest the white spaces issue which have been kicking around for the fcc the last few years might be dead. where do you stand? do you think they should continue? >> i've been a strong proponent of unlicensed use. where the unused tv channels in a particular area. again, it's the same kind of spectrum that we were just talking about for public safety. it's powerful. called wi-fi on steroids, for instance. the possible consumers benefits are fantastic. and so -- and like wi-fi, you may remember, i think i've said this before. it's almost as if on friday, nobody heard of wi-fi. by monday, everyone had it. the same can be true of our unlicensed here. the point being when it's unlicensed, that really stimulates the quick build out and a lot of small businesses and e

. >> and we welcome back to "the communicators" robert mcdowell, the lone republican commissioner on the federal communications commission. also joining us of this half hour is amy schatz who covers telecommunication issues for "the wall street journal." commissioner, let's start there. what's it like to be the lone republican on the fcc at this point? has it made a difference? >> well, first of all, over 90% of what the fcc does is not only bipartisan but unanimous, so it's probably one of the least partisan pieces of washington, d.c., that you can find. so the party label doesn't mean a whole lot. i've been there, i guess, the second longest out of all the commissioners with commissioner cox having been there almost 10 years. i've been there a little over 5. so that gives you some institutional memory to work with, but i think since commissioner baker left, i'm trying to think if i've cast a dissenting vote, maybe i have, but i don't remember what it was at this point. >> has there been movement for another republican commissioner? >> i don't know. all i know is what i've read in t

. >> tonight on "the communicators, "robert mcdowell on the fcc's actions this week to crack down on offer a service charges on consumers' phone bills. that and other issues in front of the fcc tonight on "the communicators." on c-span 2. now an update on the progress between president obama and congressional leaders on the debt ceiling from this morning's "washington journal." we will get to that and the answer. first we have a congressional editor for politico that is on the phone. good monday morning. many talks occurred over the weekend. what is on tap for today? guest: no serious talks over the weekend and nothing specific on the schedule. when they sit down publicly, it is a little bit more feeder. there will be action this week as you indicate. there will be votes on the house floor and maybe even the senate floor. this is not the actual vote. the package is something that the conservatives want to check up on but has no chance of passing the senate. host: explain it for us. guest: a vow to cut spending and balance the budget. it sounds like common sense on the surface. the pr

join us for the library of con -- congress. >> tonight, robert mcdowell on the fcc actions this week to begin cracking down on unauthorized service charges on consumers' phone bills. that is tonight and "the communicators." >> you are watching c-span, bringing new politics and public affairs. every morning it is "washington journal." watch live coverage of the house. also supreme court oral argument. on sunday, newsmakers and prime minister's questions. it is all searchable at our video library. a public service greeted by america's cable companies. >> john yates presented -- resign today amid the investigation into phone hacking by british journalist. he said recently he regrets his decision. "bbcming, we will see how a newsnight" is covering the investigation ahead of the parliament hearing with rupert murdoch, his son james, and rebekah brooks. >> now we will get an update on the most recent developments in the investigations on phone hacking from british journalist. from "bbc newsnight." >> another resignation. the biggest casualty of the phone hacking scandal. john yates follows

. ♪ ♪ >> tonight on the "communicators, and robert mcdowell on the actions this week on cracking downhe rest service charges. that and other issues in front of the fcc tonight on the "communicators" on c-span2. >> with titles like slender, can kolter has something to say. ann coulter you can catch her live, on book tv, august 7. >> book tv connection with politicians and journalists. watch live coverage of the house during the week day. and supreme court oral argument. on the weekend, see a signature in a few program. saturday, the "communicators" sunday, "q&a", "news bankers", and "prime minister's questions." c-span, washington your way. public service created by cable companies. "washington journal quebec continues. host: at the table, founder of firedog lake blog, jane hamsher. we are talking about the future of spending in this country. guest: we have been organizing around the attempts to cut social security benefits. it looks like they are really going to do something this time. we are asking people to go to their local congress office and tell their member of congress that the

. >> robert mcdowell on the fcc's actions this week to begin cracking down on unauthorized service charges on consumers' phone bills. that and other issues before the fcc. the website firedoglake.com is organizing people to visit their local congressional offices tomorrow. this morning, we talked with the blog founder. ues. host: at the table, founder of firedog lake blog, jane hamsher. we are talking about the future of spending in this country. guest: we have been organizing around the attempts to cut social security benefits. it looks like they are really going to do something this time. we are asking people to go to their local congress office and tell their member of congrs that they oppose it. host: how big will it be? guest: we have already had it thousand people commit to doing this. people are concerned understandably. they need to put a face to it. host: what darker thoughts on the idea of a balanced budget and how to get there? guest: i think -- the conclusion of a family budget and the united states government is probably not the best way to look at what we are doing right now.

[applause] fcc commissioner robert mcdowell on the fcc's actions this week to begin cracking down on unauthorized service charges on consumers phone bills. that and other issues in front of the sec on "the communicators" on c-span2. >> have you ever visited the library of congress? over 2 million people have a now this is your chance to tour the world's largest library. tonight joined c-span for a look inside the library of congress. we will take you into the great hall and explore the main reading rooms. you will find unique books and the rare books and special collections including original books from thomas jefferson's personal collection and we'll see how the libraries using modern technology to discover hidden secrets and to preserve its holdings for future generations. join us for the library of congress tonight at 8:00 p.m. eastern and pacific on c-span. >> the senate has completed its business for the day and will gavel and tomorrow at 10:00 a.m.. earlier on the floor of majority leader harry reid and minority leader mitch mcconnell discussed the federal debt and deficit incl

commissioner robert mcdowell, thank you for being on "the communicators." amy schatz, you, too. >> thank you. [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2011] >> next the california funeral services for former first lady betty ford. then we will show you the eulogies from michigan. first lady michelle obama, three former first ladies and former president george w. bush were among the invited guests at the funeral in palm desert, california, tuesday. betty ford died july 8 at the age of 93. this is an hour and 25 minutes. >> i am the resurrection and the life, saith the lord. he that believeth in me, though he were dead yet shall he live. whoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. i know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth. though this body be destroyed, yet shall i see god, whom i shall see for myself, and my eyes behold as not a stranger. for, none of us live to himself and no man dieth to himself. if we live, we live unto the lord and if

. >> tonight on "the communicators" sec commissioner robert mcdowell on the sec's actions this week begin cracking down on unauthorized service charges on consumers phone bills. >> governors from more than 30 states, commonwealth and territories gathered this weekend in salt lake city for the 103rd annual national governors association meeting. one of the session saturday and involved a discussion on u.s. border security efforts as well as lessons learned from september 11 in protecting communities. we will hear remarks from the u.s. customs and border protection deputy commissioner as well as the president for the center for national policy. governor jan brewer of arizona and governor martin o'malley of maryland co-chair the special committee on homeland security and public safety. >> and we'll showed as much of this as we can enter the chairman of the nuclear regulatory commission starts his remarks which are expected shortly. >> [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] >> good morning, everybody. the meeting of the national

commissioner robert mcdowell was first appointed to a seat on the federal communications commission by president bush. in 2006 reappointed to the commission by president barack obama in 2009. he brings over 16 years of private sector experience in the telecommunications industry to the commission. welcome. chairman john a willing hoff was named chairman of the federal energy regulatory commission, ferc caught the agency that oversees wholesale electric transaction intercity electric transmission and gas transportation in the united states by the president obama dewitt march 19th, 2009 the number of the commission since 2006 the u.s. senate confirms entry full five-year term in december 2009. he's an energy specialist with more than 34 years of experience in the field. welcome. >> commissioner felt is currently serving the second term on the commission of ferc having been nominated by president obama and sworn in for a term expiring june 35th. he nominated by president bush in 2006 and sworn into office july 24th of 26. from july 2007 he worked in congress serving as an energy policy ad

robert mcdowell, fcc commissioner, thanks for being on "the communicators." amy schatz, you, too. >> guest: you, too. >> ahead on c-span2, aol ceo tim armstrong and arianna huffington discuss the merger of the two companies and impact the internet is having on journalism. >> next remarks by aol ceo tim armstrong and arianna huffington on the merger of their companies. and have the internet has impacted journalism. former cnn ceo and "time" magazine editor walter isaacson also takes part in this forum. from the national press club, this is an hour. >> good afternoon and welcome to the national press club. my name is mark hamrick and i'm the one in the fourth president of the national press club. we are the world's leading professional organization for journalists, committed to our professions future of programming, events such as this while working to foster a free press worldwide. for more information about the national press club, please visit our website, press.org. please visit press.org/library. so we have of our members worldwide, i'd like to welcome our

commissioner robert mcdowell was first appointed to a seat on the federal communication commission by president bush. in 2006, was reappointed to the commission by president barack obama in 2009. he brings over 16 years in experience in the telecommunications industry. welcome. chairman welling hoff was named chairman of the federal energy regulatory commission. the agency that oversees wholesale gas transportation in the united states by the president on march 19, 2009. a member of the commission since 2006. the u.s. senate confirmed him to a full five-year term in 2009. he is an energy specialist with more than 34 years' experience in the field. welcome. . moehler is currently serving his second term on the commission of ferc. he was first nominated by president bush in 2006, sworn into office on july 2006. from 1997 through 2000, he worked in congress serving as an energy policy adviser, where he worked on electricity policy. then, we have a chairman from the federal trade commission, who served as chairman of this commission since february 2009, was appointed to the ftc in fall 20