Senate GOP leaders are aiming to confirm FCC nominee Geoffrey Starks and Commissioner Brendan Carr to a second full term this week via unanimous consent, Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., told reporters Wednesday. The committee advanced Starks' nomination on a voice vote. Senate confirmation of Starks this week is seen possible, in line with expectations Thune was aiming to fast-track the nominee (see 1806200055). Starks would succeed former Mignon Clyburn, who left the commission earlier this month (see 1806070041). Starks would have a term ending in 2022, and Carr's additional five-year term would end in 2023.
Groups that typically would be expected to rally behind FCC nominee Geoffrey Starks have remained mostly quiet in the weeks since President Donald Trump sent the nomination to the Senate (see 1806010072 and 1806040067). That appears to reflect concerns the groups cited soon after Starks emerged in March (see 1803090040) as the likely nominee: with almost no track record and little else to go on, self-described public interest groups and others are reluctant to say too much about the nomination. Starks’ lack of a record is widely viewed as one of his selling points and an important reason the Senate is likely to easily confirm him, communications lawyers and others told us. The Senate Commerce Committee set Starks' confirmation hearing for Wednesday in what's perceived to be a bid to fast-track approval (see 1806120047 and 1806130096).
Groups that typically would be expected to rally behind FCC nominee Geoffrey Starks have remained mostly quiet in the weeks since President Donald Trump sent the nomination to the Senate (see 1806010072 and 1806040067). That appears to reflect concerns the groups cited soon after Starks emerged in March (see 1803090040) as the likely nominee: with almost no track record and little else to go on, self-described public interest groups and others are reluctant to say too much about the nomination. Starks’ lack of a record is widely viewed as one of his selling points and an important reason the Senate is likely to easily confirm him, communications lawyers and others told us. The Senate Commerce Committee set Starks' confirmation hearing for Wednesday in what's perceived to be a bid to fast-track approval (see 1806120047 and 1806130096).
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).
Almost 70 groups asked the FCC to reconsider Lifeline USF proposals that would "weaken" the low-income telecom subsidy program and cause "irreparable harm" to consumers, especially seniors. "Lifeline helps older, low-income Americans find and keep a job, get help in the case of an emergency, to access news and information, and to keep in touch with families, educators and health providers," said a filing Wednesday in docket 17-287 by AARP, United Church of Christ Office of Communication and others. "According to one major provider, nearly a third of Lifeline customers are over the age of 55, and 36 percent are disabled." The groups objected to a proposal to exclude pure resellers and voiced concerns "about the implications of mandatory co-pays and an automatic self-executing budget cap," particularly during the next economic downturn: "Rationing Lifeline benefits and limiting service providers will harm older adults in the U.S., who are already struggling. The FCC must keep the Lifeline program’s focus on people and maintain affordable voice and broadband service for all." Consumer Action, one of the groups, further criticized the Lifeline proposals and noted FCC Chairman Ajit Pai was in South Carolina Thursday. Pai "talks a good game about closing the digital divide, but it is impossible to ignore the fact that nothing he has put on the table would offset the estimated 92,000 people in South Carolina who would lose cell phone or broadband service if the FCC proceeds with the Chairman’s attempts to radically reshape the Lifeline program," said Executive Director Ken McEldowney. An FCC spokeswoman emailed in response to Consumer Action: "This false and ridiculous claim is based on a series of inaccurate assumptions, most notably that no Lifeline participants would switch to a facilities-based provider. Chairman Pai has made it clear that Lifeline is an important program for helping to close the digital divide. It’s therefore important that the FCC take steps to reduce the well-documented waste, fraud, and abuse within the program. Every Lifeline dollar that is wasted is by definition a dollar that can’t be spent connecting low-income Americans with digital opportunity.” The FCC "is working to promote the benefits of broadband service among older Americans," blogged Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau Chief Patrick Webre, who said the bureau "is increasing its outreach efforts to seniors, engaging with partners such as the American Library Association in a campaign to help older Americans 'Get Connected.'" The bureau is also launching a "Getting Connected to Broadband" webpage "with seniors in mind while including information relevant to all generations."
The FCC approved 5-0 an NPRM that proposes to bar use of money in any USF program to buy equipment or services from companies that “pose a national security threat” to U.S. communications networks or the communications supply chain, as expected (see 1804110032). Commissioners said the NPRM was expanded while on the eighth floor to ask additional questions, including on what the FCC could do beyond the USF. Small carriers, especially members of the Rural Wireless Association, expressed concerns because many use devices and equipment provided by Chinese suppliers Huawei and ZTE. For other ZTE news Tuesday: 1804170018.
The FCC approved 5-0 an NPRM that proposes to bar use of money in any USF program to buy equipment or services from companies that “pose a national security threat” to U.S. communications networks or the communications supply chain, as expected (see 1804110032). Commissioners said the NPRM was expanded while on the eighth floor to ask additional questions, including on what the FCC could do beyond the USF. Small carriers, especially members of the Rural Wireless Association, expressed concerns because many use devices and equipment provided by Chinese suppliers Huawei and ZTE. For other ZTE news Tuesday: 1804170018.
Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., promoted his Tribal Connect Act (S-2205) during an American Library Association event Thursday, seeking support from the group and others for the bill. Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., separately filed her Community Connect Grant Program Act, which like S-2205 is aimed at broadband projects in rural and tribal communities. S-2205 would “steer much-needed federal investments" to close the digital divide "in rural and tribal communities," Heinrich said. The bill would establish a pilot program that would allow designations of tribal communities without libraries as an “anchor institution” eligible for USF E-rate funding. It also would provide training to help tribes implement E-rate and direct the FCC to work with tribes to develop E-rate eligibility requirements for their libraries. Smith's bill would codify the Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Service's Community Connect Grant Program into law and increase internet speed service under the program. Heinrich tied S-2205 into Hill lawmakers' broader push to develop broadband-related bills aimed for inclusion in a broader infrastructure bill responding to President Donald Trump's February proposal, which urges streamlining the permitting process and includes $200 billion in funding (see 1802110001 and 1802120001). E-rate “spurs the development of broadband networks in underserved communities,” Heinrich said. But the program's current requirements and application process don't “reflect the unique infrastructure challenges and needs in Indian Country,” which has made it difficult for tribes to qualify. FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn didn't endorse S-2205 during the event but pushed for efforts to increase tribal eligibility and participation in E-rate as a way of closing the digital divide, noting that “broadband investment is critical infrastructure investment which is increasingly determining which city, county, town or tribal nation thrives or not.” ALA “wholeheartedly supports” S-2205, said President Jim Neal.
Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., promoted his Tribal Connect Act (S-2205) during an American Library Association event Thursday, seeking support from the group and others for the bill. Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., separately filed her Community Connect Grant Program Act, which like S-2205 is aimed at broadband projects in rural and tribal communities. S-2205 would “steer much-needed federal investments" to close the digital divide "in rural and tribal communities," Heinrich said. The bill would establish a pilot program that would allow designations of tribal communities without libraries as an “anchor institution” eligible for USF E-rate funding. It also would provide training to help tribes implement E-rate and direct the FCC to work with tribes to develop E-rate eligibility requirements for their libraries. Smith's bill would codify the Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Service's Community Connect Grant Program into law and increase internet speed service under the program. Heinrich tied S-2205 into Hill lawmakers' broader push to develop broadband-related bills aimed for inclusion in a broader infrastructure bill responding to President Donald Trump's February proposal, which urges streamlining the permitting process and includes $200 billion in funding (see 1802110001 and 1802120001). E-rate “spurs the development of broadband networks in underserved communities,” Heinrich said. But the program's current requirements and application process don't “reflect the unique infrastructure challenges and needs in Indian Country,” which has made it difficult for tribes to qualify. FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn didn't endorse S-2205 during the event but pushed for efforts to increase tribal eligibility and participation in E-rate as a way of closing the digital divide, noting that “broadband investment is critical infrastructure investment which is increasingly determining which city, county, town or tribal nation thrives or not.” ALA “wholeheartedly supports” S-2205, said President Jim Neal.