Pai, Rosenworcel Critical of Shutdown; Starks Takes Seat
Chairman Ajit Pai and Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel criticized the shutdown’s effect on FCC staff at an agenda-less January commissioners’ meeting -- the first for new Commissioner Geoffrey Starks (see 1901030042). “This past month has been trying for everyone at the FCC,” said Pai. Staff lived under “a cloud of uncertainty” during the government-funding impasse, he said.
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Pai swore in the newest commissioner shortly before the meeting in a private ceremony. Starks called the shutdown a “tough time,” in his first remarks as commissioner. “All communities have a right to be heard on communications policy, regardless of their resources,” he said Wednesday. He wants to work with legislators, colleagues and staff "to serve the public interest by encouraging innovation, competition, and security, as well as advancing policies to increase the quality, availability, and affordability" for U.S. communications services.
The agency is “digging out” from the effects of the “unfortunate and reckless” shutdown, which caused proceedings to be delayed and inquiries to go unanswered, Rosenworcel said. “In every way, this shutdown is a slowdown,” she said in a post-meeting news conference. Commissioner Brendan Carr called the shutdown “tough times” for FCC employees. All members repeatedly praised the dedication of commission workers during the shutdown, and Pai highlighted Office of Managing Director staff working to quickly get out paychecks out when the furlough ended.
Daudeline Meme, former wireless adviser to then-Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, will be his acting chief of staff, a role she also held in the Enforcement Bureau, said Starks. A second former Clyburn aide, Enforcement Bureau Counsel Michael Scurato, will be acting media adviser. Prior the FCC, Scurato was National Hispanic Media Coalition vice president-policy. Starks’ acting wireline aide is ex-Senate Commerce Committee's FCC Counsel Randy Clarke, former acting Wireline Bureau deputy chief. Starks’ acting confidential assistant will be Renee Coles, former assistant to then-Commissioner Mike Copps and currently of OMD. Natalie Martinez, former assistant to five FCC general counsels, will be the new commissioner’s staff assistant.
Starks said in a brief meeting statement that his career has been focused on “protecting the most vulnerable and holding wrongdoers accountable” and those goals will continue. “I love that his opening statement focuses on affordability and on ensuring that voices of underrepresented communities are heard in DC too,” tweeted Free Press Policy Director Matt Wood.
Rosenworcel said now that she’s not the only Democrat, she’s looking forward to being “less lonely” at the agency. She has plans to collaborate with Starks on “a whole lotta stuff.” Rosenworcel was the only commissioner to hold a news conference after Wednesday’s meeting. Customarily all members speak to the media and take questions.