Congressional Democrats are returning from a month-plus recess more willing to vent frustrations over President Joe Biden’s delay in announcing nominees to two Democratic FCC seats. They cite growing concerns the sometimes-lengthy Senate confirmation process could result in the current 2-2 split commission switching to a 2-1 GOP majority in January. Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel’s term expired in June 2020, meaning she would have to leave Jan. 3 absent Senate reconfirmation.
The FCC could accede to a request to pause new foreign-sponsored content identification rules, and it's likely broadcasters otherwise will renew the request in court, said broadcast and appellate attorneys in interviews. A stay petition was filed last week by NAB, the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters and the Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council. They argue the new rules will affect all stations when relatively few air the content targeted by the regulations. The FCC “could easily have achieved its purported objectives and then some with a less burdensome approach,” said the stay request.
No broadband-related actions President Joe Biden asked the FCC to take in his Friday executive order on competition can easily proceed until there are additional commissioners to secure a Democratic majority, EO supporters and opponents told us. The directive encourages the FCC to at least bring back rescinded 2015 net neutrality rules and act against some other communications sector practices. Congressional Democrats have become increasingly frustrated by Biden’s slow nominations process (see 2106160056). (For the EO's tech provisions, see 2107090060.)
The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reissued (on Pacer) the mandate for the court’s Prometheus IV. The Supreme Court ruled in the FCC's favor in April (see 2104010067). “This Court’s prior opinion and amended judgment are hereby VACATED. This Court and panel do not retain jurisdiction,” the 3rd Circuit said Friday. The reissue is largely pro forma and rules restored by the SCOTUS decision are already back in effect, said Benton Institute for Broadband & Society Senior Counselor Andrew Schwartzman, who represented public interest groups here. The FCC cites reinstatement of the eligible entity definition and its effect on a specific auction rule (see 2104270078).
Some Congressional Black Caucus leaders urged President Joe Biden to nominate DLA Piper’s Smitty Smith as FCC chairman, amid lawmakers' amplified calls for the administration to name people of color as commissioners. Lawmakers and others told us there’s uncertainty about Biden’s timeline for selecting a nominee to cement a Democratic FCC majority, seen as necessary to make changes to net neutrality rules and other potentially controversial matters, given the current 2-2 split (see 2101060055).
NAB President-CEO Gordon Smith will step down at the end of 2021 and be replaced by current NAB Chief Operating Officer Curtis LeGeyt, the group announced Wednesday. Broadcasters and broadcast attorneys told us LeGeyt is seen as having extensive contacts among Capitol Hill Democrats.
NAB President-CEO Gordon Smith will step down at the end of 2021 and be replaced by current NAB Chief Operating Officer Curtis LeGeyt, the group announced Wednesday. Broadcasters and broadcast attorneys told us LeGeyt is seen as having extensive contacts among Capitol Hill Democrats.
A unanimous Supreme Court Thursday upheld on process grounds the previous FCC’s relaxation of several broadcast ownership rules (see 2101190070). This makes it unlikely that future challenges to quadrennial reviews will end up before the same panel of 3rd U.S Circuit Court of Appeals judges that has consistently ruled against QR orders for nearly two decades, experts noted in interviews. “The FCC’s decision to repeal or modify the three ownership rules was not arbitrary and capricious for purposes” of the Administrative Procedure Act, said the majority opinion by Justice Brett Kavanaugh. “We reverse the judgment of the" 3rd Circuit.
Acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel is making moves that suggest she has high hopes of being named permanent chief. They include her plans for a top-to-bottom review of items before the agency and appointment of a press secretary. Rosenworcel replied to congressional letters sent to her and had an international telecom discussion. Her agenda focused on moving forward on items begun under then-Chairman Ajit Pai and acting to implement congressional broadband relief.
Congress, not courts, should decide net neutrality, said a federal judge Tuesday, ruling from the bench denying ISPs a preliminary injunction against California’s law (see our bulletin). “I don't find that the plaintiffs have demonstrated a likelihood of success on the merits at this stage of the litigation,” said Judge John Mendez on the motion by ACA Connects, CTIA, NCTA and USTelecom in case 2:18-cv-02684. This paves the way for the law to take effect, cheering fans of using Communications Act Title II to regulate broadband service, while industry plaintiffs agreed with the judge that Congress must step in.