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.
FCC General Counsel Brendan Carr's nomination to the commission's vacant GOP seat poses as many questions as it answers about the path forward for his confirmation process and those of Democratic FCC nominee Jessica Rosenworcel and FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, who requires a vote on his own renomination, industry lobbyists told us. President Donald Trump formally sent Carr's nomination to the Senate at our deadline Thursday. The White House said Wednesday Trump would nominate Carr to both the remainder of the vacant seat's current term, which ends June 13, 2018, and an additional five-year term that expires in June 2023 (see 1706280068). Industry observers told us the Carr and Rosenworcel nominations could signal an imminent period of relative stability at the FCC (see 1706290065).
President Donald Trump’s nomination of Brendan Carr to the open Republican seat at the FCC, combined with that of Jessica Rosenworcel to a Democratic seat, presages relative stability at the agency. Carr is seen as a likely reliable vote for Chairman Ajit Pai on most issues, industry observers told us, and both nominees bring long experience to the job.
FCC General Counsel Brendan Carr's nomination to the commission's vacant GOP seat poses as many questions as it answers about the path forward for his confirmation process and those of Democratic FCC nominee Jessica Rosenworcel and FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, who requires a vote on his own renomination, industry lobbyists told us. President Donald Trump formally sent Carr's nomination to the Senate at our deadline Thursday. The White House said Wednesday Trump would nominate Carr to both the remainder of the vacant seat's current term, which ends June 13, 2018, and an additional five-year term that expires in June 2023 (see 1706280068). Industry observers told us the Carr and Rosenworcel nominations could signal an imminent period of relative stability at the FCC (see 1706290065).
President Donald Trump’s nomination of Brendan Carr to the open Republican seat at the FCC, combined with that of Jessica Rosenworcel to a Democratic seat, presages relative stability at the agency. Carr is seen as a likely reliable vote for Chairman Ajit Pai on most issues, industry observers told us, and both nominees bring long experience to the job.
The nomination of Jessica Rosenworcel to return to the FCC as a commissioner (see 1706140065) could provide additional impetus for Commissioner Mignon Clyburn to announce her eventual retirement from the agency, industry officials said. Clyburn has been under some pressure from opponents of Chairman Ajit Pai’s deregulatory agenda to step down in July after her term expires this month to leave the FCC without a quorum (see 1704140061). Clyburn has had little to say on the topic and gave no indication she will leave soon. Clyburn spoke to the Voices for Internet Freedom Public Forum in Atlanta Tuesday night in defense of the 2015 net neutrality rules.
The nomination of Jessica Rosenworcel to return to the FCC as a commissioner (see 1706140065) could provide additional impetus for Commissioner Mignon Clyburn to announce her eventual retirement from the agency, industry officials said. Clyburn has been under some pressure from opponents of Chairman Ajit Pai’s deregulatory agenda to step down in July after her term expires this month to leave the FCC without a quorum (see 1704140061). Clyburn has had little to say on the topic and gave no indication she will leave soon. Clyburn spoke to the Voices for Internet Freedom Public Forum in Atlanta Tuesday night in defense of the 2015 net neutrality rules.
Witnesses were divided on the merits of federal pre-emption for telecom equipment siting challenges, during a Wednesday Senate Commerce Committee broadband deployment hearing. Lawmakers held the infrastructure hearing with an eye toward the Trump administration’s priority of a bigger infrastructure package, which is widely expected to address broadband funding. There's no White House proposal released so far.
Witnesses were divided on the merits of federal pre-emption for telecom equipment siting challenges, during a Wednesday Senate Commerce Committee broadband deployment hearing. Lawmakers held the infrastructure hearing with an eye toward the Trump administration’s priority of a bigger infrastructure package, which is widely expected to address broadband funding. There's no White House proposal released so far.
CTIA is ready with asks for Congress on how to go beyond the Senate’s Mobile Now spectrum bill, Vice President-Regulatory Affairs Scott Bergmann plans to testify before the House Communications Subcommittee Wednesday. Chairman Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., also will outline ambitions to move spectrum legislation beyond what is in Mobile Now. This is the first time the lower chamber will directly consider S-19, a bipartisan package on both spectrum and broadband deployment. It has no precise House companion, and Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., is developing follow-up legislation that builds off the bill, putting together what one staffer called “Mobile Now Plus” ideas (see 1702210051).