All signs point to an easy Senate confirmation vote for FCC nominee Geoffrey Starks, but his lack of a clear public track record on many high-profile telecom policy issues likely portends tough questions from lawmakers in both parties in the weeks ahead, communications officials and lobbyists told us. President Donald Trump at our deadline Monday formally nominated Starks, an Enforcement Bureau assistant chief, to succeed outgoing Commissioner Mignon Clyburn for a term ending June 30, 2022. Chairman Ajit Pai and some other commissioners lauded Starks’ selection Friday, though only some directly received a White House announcement about the nomination then (see 1806010072).
All signs point to an easy Senate confirmation vote for FCC nominee Geoffrey Starks, but his lack of a clear public track record on many high-profile telecom policy issues likely portends tough questions from lawmakers in both parties in the weeks ahead, communications officials and lobbyists told us. President Donald Trump at our deadline Monday formally nominated Starks, an Enforcement Bureau assistant chief, to succeed outgoing Commissioner Mignon Clyburn for a term ending June 30, 2022. Chairman Ajit Pai and some other commissioners lauded Starks’ selection Friday, though only some directly received a White House announcement about the nomination then (see 1806010072).
Data throttling will be a top enforcement priority when FTC jurisdiction over broadband providers is restored June 11, said Consumer Protection Bureau Director Andrew Smith Friday. When the FCC net neutrality order takes effect, the FTC will look to publicly expose “issues with respect to fast-tracking of certain traffic and slowing down to less speed with respect to other traffic,” Smith said at a George Mason University event, citing recent throttling allegations against AT&T.
Data throttling will be a top enforcement priority when FTC jurisdiction over broadband providers is restored June 11, said Consumer Protection Bureau Director Andrew Smith Friday. When the FCC net neutrality order takes effect, the FTC will look to publicly expose “issues with respect to fast-tracking of certain traffic and slowing down to less speed with respect to other traffic,” Smith said at a George Mason University event, citing recent throttling allegations against AT&T.
Cable and leased access programmer (LAP) reaction to the FCC's proposed revisit of its cable leased access rules is hazy, as is whether issuing the further NPRM on June's FCC agenda (see 1805160051) will be a unanimous commissioner decision, experts said. The 2008 leased access order supported by the Leased Access Programmers Association and opposed by cable was never put into place, and the FNPRM that proposes rescinding that order could be a chance for "new thinking" on leased access that better balances rules tilted today toward cable, said LAPA Vice President Duane Polich.
In what some called an unusual move, FCC Commissioner Mike O'Rielly used the agency's blog Friday to defend each of the commission's media regulations under Chairman Ajit Pai against criticism that such actions are benefiting Sinclair. Recounting a trip last week to the Pearl TV-led ATSC 3.0 model-market project in Phoenix (see 1805090082), O'Rielly fleshed out his view that the Pai-led commission isn't trying to help only Sinclair, but broadcasters overall when circumstances dictate.
Commissioner Mignon Clyburn remains at the FCC a month after she announced she was leaving (see 1804170056), in a move some FCC watchers said is unusual for departing members. She has stopped participating in monthly open meetings and wasn’t at the May 10 meeting. Yet she remains a commissioner and has continued to vote on some items on circulation, FCC officials said. Clyburn had an FCC goodbye party (see 1805070036) yet she continues making other public appearances.
Commissioner Mignon Clyburn remains at the FCC a month after she announced she was leaving (see 1804170056), in a move some FCC watchers said is unusual for departing members. She has stopped participating in monthly open meetings and wasn’t at the May 10 meeting. Yet she remains a commissioner and has continued to vote on some items on circulation, FCC officials said. Clyburn had an FCC goodbye party (see 1805070036) yet she continues making other public appearances.
It’s unlikely that Sinclair's buying Tribune would be approved on FCC staff delegated authority rather than go before the full commission, industry lawyers and ex-officials said in interviews. Delegating such a highly scrutinized deal to the bureau would look bad politically, lengthen the appeals process for the transaction, and could violate FCC rules requiring that new and novel proceedings be decided by the agency's members, they said. “What are commissioners for if they don’t vote on a deal that would create the biggest broadcast group in history?” said former Commissioner Mike Copps, now with Sinclair/Tribune opponent Common Cause. “That would be a complete abdication of responsibility.”
AT&T apparent ousting of Senior Executive Vice President Bob Quinn after controversy over the company's hiring of Donald Trump personal lawyer Michael Cohen (see 1805090080) isn't going to change how lobbying is practiced in Washington or by AT&T, experts said. Unless other related issues come up, there's no long-term damage to AT&T and "people move on," said professor David Rehr, who teaches legislative advocacy at George Mason University's Scalia Law School and used to be NAB head. He said government relations offices or corporate personnel might be more careful in vetting who interacts with the administration. "Everyone is going to go 'better double-check that person,'" Rehr said.