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In their first appearance before the recently elected Democratic Congress, the five FCC commissioners faced tough questions on net neutrality from a Senate panel, CNET reports.

The timing of the hearing, though, did not allow for the anticipated smackdown, because Senators - to make voting sessions - failed to show or left early. Even so, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin and colleagues did not get off easy. Senators peppered them with questions on net neutrality (not discriminating between types of internet traffic) and the recently approved merger of Bellsouth and AT&T.

That approval came in part because AT&T agreed to adhere to net neutrality for a time. Martin, however, has been vague about whether he or the FCC would hold AT&T to its promise. Older issues came up, too: The FCC received criticism over decisions to relax media-ownership rules.

Martin said the FCC would consider addressing the disappearance, in some markets, of local programming that's been forced out in deference to nationally syndicated shows. He said he was wary, however, of compelling media companies to offer certain kinds of programming.