Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., is preparing for the likelihood of securing a roll call vote on the floor for his newly reintroduced Mobile Now spectrum bill (S-19), he told us Wednesday. He anticipates creating a bigger package of telecom measures through the Mobile Now markup process, he said, potentially wrapping in other items that failed to clear the upper chamber last session.
President Barack Obama sent the renomination of Jessica Rosenworcel for FCC commissioner to the Senate Wednesday (see 1701040072), as the office of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., had requested last month. Her tenure as a Democratic commissioner ended Tuesday following Senate inaction on her term's expiration last Congress. The 115th Congress began Tuesday.
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 Commissioner Ajit Pai, leading candidate to be chairman in Donald Trump's presidential administration, would be the first FCC chairman who's an enthusiastic, spontaneous user of social media, especially Twitter. Industry observers don’t expect that to change if he becomes acting or permanent chairman in January. Pai has posted almost 9,400 tweets, more than twice as many as his closest colleague, Jessica Rosenworcel. Trump himself has posted more than 34,200 tweets.
FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai, leading candidate to be chairman in Donald Trump's presidential administration, would be the first FCC chairman who's an enthusiastic, spontaneous user of social media, especially Twitter. Industry observers don’t expect that to change if he becomes acting or permanent chairman in January. Pai has posted almost 9,400 tweets, more than twice as many as his closest colleague, Jessica Rosenworcel. Trump himself has posted more than 34,200 tweets.
Outgoing Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., wants FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel back on the commission in 2017 to fill the second Democratic spot that will open after agency Chairman Tom Wheeler’s departure, he said Thursday. Incoming Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., agrees, his spokesman told us. They join Senate Commerce Committee ranking member Bill Nelson, D-Fla., in making the push for a renomination, a rare event that senior Democrats in the upper chamber seem to be widely backing (see 1612120058).
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.
Outgoing Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., wants FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel back on the commission in 2017 to fill the second Democratic spot that will open after agency Chairman Tom Wheeler’s departure, he said Thursday. Incoming Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., agrees, his spokesman told us. They join Senate Commerce Committee ranking member Bill Nelson, D-Fla., in making the push for a renomination, a rare event that senior Democrats in the upper chamber seem to be widely backing (see 1612120058).
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.