The FCC's going from three to five commissioners (see 1708030060) isn’t likely to alter Chairman Ajit Pai’s momentum and main policy agenda, but it could lead to shifts on lower-profile items and possibly a slightly slower-moving commission if Pai seeks to include all the members in deliberations, industry officials said Friday. Former officials said the additions likely means Commissioner Mike O’Rielly’s role will grow in stature. Telecom, cable and satellite representatives expect little to no learning curve given the experience the two bring. Commissioner Brendan Carr may not trigger any notable change in Pai’s agenda, since pet interests of his very likely could be baked into Pai’s priorities.
Initial net neutrality comments were due Monday and major players weighed in, joining millions who had already filed. The FCC ultimately will have to address the filings, especially from groups like the Internet Association and major broadband ISPs. But industry officials said Monday the comments likely to get the most attention at the Ajit Pai FCC are those that offered hard data on the economic effects of Title II broadband reclassification and the 2015 rules.
Initial net neutrality comments were due Monday and major players weighed in, joining millions who had already filed. The FCC ultimately will have to address the filings, especially from groups like the Internet Association and major broadband ISPs. But industry officials said Monday the comments likely to get the most attention at the Ajit Pai FCC are those that offered hard data on the economic effects of Title II broadband reclassification and the 2015 rules.
Senate Democrats are continuing the vetting process in their search for a so-far elusive consensus candidate to potentially replace FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn at the commission if she retires. Questions about Clyburn's plans have continued amid pending Senate consideration of FCC Chairman Ajit Pai's renomination and fellow commission nominees Brendan Carr and Jessica Rosenworcel. Clyburn recently said in a C-SPAN interview she didn't intend to leave in the immediate future (see 1706290063 and 1706290070). The search for a potential replacement for Clyburn also raised questions about the extent to which President Donald Trump's administration will be willing give leeway to Senate Democratic leaders' preferred candidate, lobbyists and observers told us.
Senate Democrats are continuing the vetting process in their search for a so-far elusive consensus candidate to potentially replace FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn at the commission if she retires. Questions about Clyburn's plans have continued amid pending Senate consideration of FCC Chairman Ajit Pai's renomination and fellow commission nominees Brendan Carr and Jessica Rosenworcel. Clyburn recently said in a C-SPAN interview she didn't intend to leave in the immediate future (see 1706290063 and 1706290070). The search for a potential replacement for Clyburn also raised questions about the extent to which President Donald Trump's administration will be willing give leeway to Senate Democratic leaders' preferred candidate, lobbyists and observers told us.
Critics of the FCC's deregulatory business data service (BDS) order asked for a court stay after the agency declined to act on their request for regulatory relief (see 1706260054 and 1707030046). Windstream, BT Americas, Incompas and the Ad Hoc Telecom Users Committee filed their stay motion (available here) Monday in the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which was selected by lottery to hear challenges to the order (Citizens Telecommunications v. FCC, No. 17-2296 and consolidated cases). The FCC Friday and Citizens and CenturyLink Monday filed oppositions (here and here in Pacer) to a recent request -- by the stay movants plus Granite Telecommunications and Sprint -- that the 8th Circuit transfer the case to the D.C. Circuit.
Critics of the FCC's deregulatory business data service (BDS) order asked for a court stay after the agency declined to act on their request for regulatory relief (see 1706260054 and 1707030046). Windstream, BT Americas, Incompas and the Ad Hoc Telecom Users Committee filed their stay motion (available here) Monday in the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which was selected by lottery to hear challenges to the order (Citizens Telecommunications v. FCC, No. 17-2296 and consolidated cases). The FCC Friday and Citizens and CenturyLink Monday filed oppositions (here and here in Pacer) to a recent request -- by the stay movants plus Granite Telecommunications and Sprint -- that the 8th Circuit transfer the case to the D.C. Circuit.
The retirement of an FCC security official involved in a physical altercation with a reporter last month was announced at commissioners' meeting Thursday, where new security policies involving the news media were put into effect. The retirement of Administration Security Operations Center Head Fred Bucher was planned before the May incident with CQ Roll Call Senior Writer John Donnelly and isn’t related, an FCC spokesman told us. Reporters covering the June meeting were for the first time issued bright orange badges marked “PRESS,” and the event included a noticeably more visible security presence, similar to what was in place last month when the commission considered controversial agenda items involving net neutrality.
The retirement of an FCC security official involved in a physical altercation with a reporter last month was announced at commissioners' meeting Thursday, where new security policies involving the news media were put into effect. The retirement of Administration Security Operations Center Head Fred Bucher was planned before the May incident with CQ Roll Call Senior Writer John Donnelly and isn’t related, an FCC spokesman told us. Reporters covering the June meeting were for the first time issued bright orange badges marked “PRESS,” and the event included a noticeably more visible security presence, similar to what was in place last month when the commission considered controversial agenda items involving net neutrality.
Industry lobbyists are hopeful President Donald Trump will announce a nominee as soon as this week for the remaining GOP FCC seat but hadn't received additional signals to indicate a nomination announcement was imminent. Chatter increased since the White House formalized Jessica Rosenworcel’s nomination last week to again be a Democratic commissioner (see 1706140065).