No Reason Not to Reconfirm Rosenworcel, PTC's Winter Says

stepping down and leaving the FCC with the incoming Donald Trump administration, Winter said, citing the condition ascribed to the GOP holds preventing Rosenworcel's reconfirmation. “It’s really sad” that her renomination “has been used like a political football” and “poker chip,” he said. One GOP Senate staffer told us last week that Rosenworcel’s reconfirmation is less likely following the recent elections (see 1611100050), although many agree it is a Senate leadership fight. Winter expanded on a news release that his group released earlier that day. Now is the ideal time to make PTC's priorities known before Congress, the FCC and the incoming Trump administration, Winter told us: “What we want to do is get out there early with a really solid laundry list.” He pointed favorably to Trump's having signed during the presidential campaign from the group Enough Is Enough to enforce obscenity laws. Winter also hopes that the Dec. 7 Senate Judiciary Antitrust Subcommittee hearing on AT&T buying Time Warner brings up the issue of network unbundling as a potential condition: “The bully pulpit is important.” He said the FCC should handle outstanding broadcast indecency complaints and that Congress and the agency should review the content rating system. Winter referred to meetings with Commerce Committee offices of both parties and chambers of Congress starting this summer and that all seem to believe that the content rating system “deserves a closer look.” He wants “some remedies” in that regard, Winter said, blasting the current system as “inaccurate, inconsistent, wholly lacking transparency.” It’s time for a public hearing on that, he said. Winter hopes that no legislation is necessary to achieve his goals, he said.