Jessica Rosenworcel's tenure as FCC commissioner ended Tuesday, as expected (see 1612150068), leaving the commission at a 2-2 split for the next two weeks. Republicans will have a 2-1 majority once Chairman Tom Wheeler steps down Jan. 20. A senior Senate Republican questioned any imminent possibilities for returning Rosenworcel to the FCC in 2017, despite calls from senior Democrats including new Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., for President Barack Obama to renominate her in Obama’s few remaining days. But he didn't rule out the possibility under the incoming administration of Donald Trump.
Jessica Rosenworcel's tenure as FCC commissioner ended Tuesday, as expected (see 1612150068), leaving the commission at a 2-2 split for the next two weeks. Republicans will have a 2-1 majority once Chairman Tom Wheeler steps down Jan. 20. A senior Senate Republican questioned any imminent possibilities for returning Rosenworcel to the FCC in 2017, despite calls from senior Democrats including new Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., for President Barack Obama to renominate her in Obama’s few remaining days. But he didn't rule out the possibility under the incoming administration of Donald Trump.
FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler announced before Thursday’s commissioners' meeting that he will leave on Inauguration Day (see 1612150002), as expected (see 1612130014). The move effectively clears the way for a 2-1 FCC starting Jan. 20, with senior Republican Ajit Pai likely at the helm as interim or possibly permanent chairman. A student of history, Wheeler did what most of his predecessors have done, though he was under pressure from some interest groups to stay on. Wheeler was quicker to clarify he would step down than his most recent predecessors have been. The FCC next meets Jan. 26.
FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler announced before Thursday’s commissioners' meeting that he will leave on Inauguration Day (see 1612150002), as expected (see 1612130014). The move effectively clears the way for a 2-1 FCC starting Jan. 20, with senior Republican Ajit Pai likely at the helm as interim or possibly permanent chairman. A student of history, Wheeler did what most of his predecessors have done, though he was under pressure from some interest groups to stay on. Wheeler was quicker to clarify he would step down than his most recent predecessors have been. The FCC next meets Jan. 26.
Senate prospects for reconfirming Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel seemed to plummet Thursday, which would mean she would have to soon leave the FCC. The approval is believed to require filing for cloture, a timely process that no longer fits into expectations for the Senate’s remaining minimal time. FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler committed to Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., earlier this week that he would resign immediately if it would ensure Rosenworcel’s confirmation, an agency spokesman confirmed.
Senate prospects for reconfirming Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel seemed to plummet Thursday, which would mean she would have to soon leave the FCC. The approval is believed to require filing for cloture, a timely process that no longer fits into expectations for the Senate’s remaining minimal time. FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler committed to Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., earlier this week that he would resign immediately if it would ensure Rosenworcel’s confirmation, an agency spokesman confirmed.
The pay-TV industry hopes to see the coming FCC make regulatory parity a priority, since cable is heavily regulated and its over-the-top competition is unregulated, said Cristina Pauze, ex-Time Warner Cable vice president-regulatory, at a Practising Law Institute conference Friday. Some parity might also require congressional action, but the deregulatory agenda of the incoming Republican-controlled Congress and White House "provides a lot of opportunity," she said.
The NAB will look to the next FCC to reverse media ownership rules instead of the courts, said a petition for reconsideration filed with the commission Thursday. NAB already had filed a court challenge of the 2014 quadrennial review with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, but it filed a motion to withdraw that petition for review Friday. The decision to pursue the matter at the FCC indicates NAB believes the upcoming Republican-controlled FCC will be more sympathetic to the association’s arguments than the courts, a possibility that was foreseen by some broadcast attorneys following the case (see 1611090061). “This is not a surprise,” said Georgetown University Institute for Public Representation Senior Counselor Andrew Schwartzman, who represents Prometheus Radio Project in its court challenge of the media ownership rules. Nexstar Broadcasting and Connoisseur Media also filed recon petitions with the FCC against aspects of the media ownership rules.
On Oct. 27, 2015, the stage was set for the much-scrutinized court hearing on FCC net neutrality rules and broadband reclassification under Title II of the Communications Act. That day, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit identified judges in the case as David Tatel and Sri Srinivasan, both Democratic appointees, and Senior Judge Stephen Williams, a Republican appointee. As Communications Daily first reported Oct. 28, Tatel was the most-watched judge in the case (see 1510280052). This Part III of our Special Report on net neutrality explores the hearing and continuing legal challenges. Part I was on the rules themselves (see 1609150017) and Part II on pleadings to the court that led up to Dec. 4, 2015, oral argument (see 1609230009). Part IV is on the court's eventual decision (see 1610210015).
CTA President Gary Shapiro called then-candidate Donald Trump “dangerous and unqualified to lead.” Netflix CEO Reed Hastings and Jim Cicconi, since-retired AT&T senior executive vice president-congressional affairs, publicly endorsed Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton (see 1606230070). NAB President Gordon Smith donated to Trump's Republican primaries opponent Jeb Bush (see 1611150062) . Now that the election is over, those stances aren't expected to affect those entities' efforts to lobby the Republican-controlled Congress or the FCC, numerous attorneys, lobbyists and industry officials said in interviews.