The Senate approved the nominations of Brendan Carr and Jessica Rosenworcel as FCC commissioners, as part of a deal among Senate leaders on a package of President Donald Trump's nominees. The Thursday deal that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., reached covered only Carr's first abbreviated term set to end next year, with the Senate holding over votes on Carr's nomination to a second full term through 2023 and on FCC Chairman Ajit Pai's renomination. The deal also included passage under unanimous consent of several long-stalled telecom bills, including the Mobile Now Act (S-19) spectrum bill.
The Senate approved the nominations of Brendan Carr and Jessica Rosenworcel as FCC commissioners, as part of a deal among Senate leaders on a package of President Donald Trump's nominees. The Thursday deal that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., reached covered only Carr's first abbreviated term set to end next year, with the Senate holding over votes on Carr's nomination to a second full term through 2023 and on FCC Chairman Ajit Pai's renomination. The deal also included passage under unanimous consent of several long-stalled telecom bills, including the Mobile Now Act (S-19) spectrum bill.
The Senate Commerce Committee voted Wednesday to advance confirmations of FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and Commissioner nominees Brendan Carr and Jessica Rosenworcel, while negotiations to include them in a nominations package for a floor vote hadn't concluded. The committee again delayed a vote on NTIA Administrator nominee David Redl because of Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz's concerns about responses to his queries on last October's Internet Assigned Numbers Authority oversight transition (see 1610030042 and 1708010071).
The Senate Commerce Committee voted Wednesday to advance confirmations of FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and Commissioner nominees Brendan Carr and Jessica Rosenworcel, while negotiations to include them in a nominations package for a floor vote hadn't concluded. The committee again delayed a vote on NTIA Administrator nominee David Redl because of Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz's concerns about responses to his queries on last October's Internet Assigned Numbers Authority oversight transition (see 1610030042 and 1708010071).
A bid by Senate Democrats to get Republican leaders' assurance that a possible successor to FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn will get a confirmation vote at a later date appears to be part of negotiations aimed at including FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and two other commission nominees in a package of nominees up for a full Senate vote before August recess, lobbyists told us. Should Clyburn leave, lobbyists and government officials said Joey Wender, an aide to Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., is among those who has been under consideration. There's no clear frontrunner.
A bid by Senate Democrats to get Republican leaders' assurance that a possible successor to FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn will get a confirmation vote at a later date appears to be part of negotiations aimed at including FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and two other commission nominees in a package of nominees up for a full Senate vote before August recess, lobbyists told us. Should Clyburn leave, lobbyists and government officials said Joey Wender, an aide to Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., is among those who has been under consideration. There's no clear frontrunner.
Senate Commerce Eyes Aug. 2 FCC Nominees' Markup; Committee Democrats Seek Deal on Clyburn Successor
The Senate Commerce Committee tentatively plans an Aug. 2 markup on nominations of FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, commissioner nominees Brendan Carr and Jessica Rosenworcel and other nominees, committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., told us Wednesday. Meanwhile, Committee Democrats seek some deal on the FCC nominees that would assuage their concerns about how Senate Commerce would handle a possible Democratic nominee to replace current Commissioner Mignon Clyburn.
Senate Commerce Eyes Aug. 2 FCC Nominees' Markup; Committee Democrats Seek Deal on Clyburn Successor
The Senate Commerce Committee tentatively plans an Aug. 2 markup on nominations of FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, commissioner nominees Brendan Carr and Jessica Rosenworcel and other nominees, committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., told us Wednesday. Meanwhile, Committee Democrats seek some deal on the FCC nominees that would assuage their concerns about how Senate Commerce would handle a possible Democratic nominee to replace current Commissioner Mignon Clyburn.
With more robocall regulatory steps initiated at Thursday's commissioners' meeting and the agency setting a $2.88 million fine against a robocall technology company, the FCC is sending clear signals about trying to eliminate "this scourge" of robocalls, Chairman Ajit Pai said. "Relief from robocalls is getting closer," he said, voicing support for a do-not-originate system for calls, saying that would be "pretty significant." Mike O'Rielly dissented on levying the fine, saying as precedent it could affect other technology platforms.
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.