The five members of the Federal Communications Commission – including its new chairman and two new commissioners – headed up to Capitol Hill this week for an oversight hearing.

There were some good signs for consumers during the session, especially from new FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski and House Energy and Commerce Commission Chairman Henry Waxman.

Genachowski said the agency is placing special emphasis on the expansion of broadband, especially into unserved and underserved areas. Also at the top of his list is “fostering investment and innovation, promoting competition, and protecting and empowering consumers, children, and families.”

As evidence of progress already being made, Genachowski pointed to a series of public workshops on a nationwide broadband plan the agency is expected to send to Congress early next year.

“I believe that broadband is our generation’s major infrastructure challenge,” he told the Senate panel. “Earlier generations faced, and rose to, similar challenges, with railroads, highways, telephones, and electricity – networks that have connected Americans, served as a platform for commerce, and improved the quality of life for all Americans. The FCC’s plan should ensure that our country has a broadband infrastructure appropriate to the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.”

He also pointed to Broadband.Gov – a recently launched web site he said has helped open up the public dialogue around the broadband plan to more citizens and new voices from around the country, including rural and inner cities, small businesses, and state and local governments. The web site provides schedules and information about the broadband initiative and “is a place for all stakeholders to give us input and comments on our progress to date.” Genachowski said.

Waxman backs Net Neutrality

On a related front, Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman announced at the hearing he is becoming a co-sponsor of the proposed Internet Freedom Preservation Act. The legislation would put into law the principles of “Network Neutrality,” the idea that data on the Internet should be moved impartially, without regard to content, destination or source.

Big Internet service providers such as AT&T and Comcast are opposed to Net Neutrality, arguing they should be able to decide how data is carried over their networks. Most of the big ISP companies believe they should be able to speed up or slow down data from different sources. For example, data from content providers that may have paid fees to the ISP would be moved faster than those who have not.

“I think that the time is right to formally establish, through legislation if required, the rules of the road with respect to net neutrality,” said Waxman.