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.
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).
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).
Senate leaders still may reach a deal to reconfirm FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel before the Democrat has to leave the agency at the end of this Congress, officials from Capitol Hill and industry told us Wednesday. Her reconfirmation has faced GOP holds for close to a year. Some industry lobbyists said the deal also may address the reconfirmation of Commissioner Ajit Pai. Congress is expected to adjourn as soon as next week.
Senate leaders still may reach a deal to reconfirm FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel before the Democrat has to leave the agency at the end of this Congress, officials from Capitol Hill and industry told us Wednesday. Her reconfirmation has faced GOP holds for close to a year. Some industry lobbyists said the deal also may address the reconfirmation of Commissioner Ajit Pai. Congress is expected to adjourn as soon as next week.
Senate Democrats joined Republicans in blocking the reconfirmation of FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, a fellow Democrat who formerly worked as a Senate Commerce Committee staffer. Sens. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Ron Wyden, D-Ore., both revealed holds against Rosenworcel Thursday for what they viewed as shortcomings on telecom policy.
Senate Democrats joined Republicans in blocking the reconfirmation of FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, a fellow Democrat who formerly worked as a Senate Commerce Committee staffer. Sens. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Ron Wyden, D-Ore., both revealed holds against Rosenworcel Thursday for what they viewed as shortcomings on telecom policy.
Parents Television Council President Tim Winter sees no reason for Senate Republicans to hold up FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel's reconfirmation following the November elections, Winter told us Monday. It’s now “all but certain” that FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler will be stepping down and leaving the FCC with the incoming Donald Trump administration, Winter said, citing the condition ascribed to the GOP holds preventing Rosenworcel's reconfirmation. “It’s really sad” that her renomination “has been used like a political football” and “poker chip,” he said. One GOP Senate staffer told us last week that Rosenworcel’s reconfirmation is less likely following the recent elections (see 1611100050), although many agree it is a Senate leadership fight. Winter expanded on a news release that his group released earlier that day. Now is the ideal time to make PTC's priorities known before Congress, the FCC and the incoming Trump administration, Winter told us: “What we want to do is get out there early with a really solid laundry list.” He pointed favorably to Trump's having signed during the presidential campaign from the group Enough Is Enough to enforce obscenity laws. Winter also hopes that the Dec. 7 Senate Judiciary Antitrust Subcommittee hearing on AT&T buying Time Warner brings up the issue of network unbundling as a potential condition: “The bully pulpit is important.” He said the FCC should handle outstanding broadcast indecency complaints and that Congress and the agency should review the content rating system. Winter referred to meetings with Commerce Committee offices of both parties and chambers of Congress starting this summer and that all seem to believe that the content rating system “deserves a closer look.” He wants “some remedies” in that regard, Winter said, blasting the current system as “inaccurate, inconsistent, wholly lacking transparency.” It’s time for a public hearing on that, he said. Winter hopes that no legislation is necessary to achieve his goals, he said.
Parents Television Council President Tim Winter sees no reason for Senate Republicans to hold up FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel's reconfirmation following the November elections, Winter told us Monday. It’s now “all but certain” that FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler will be stepping down and leaving the FCC with the incoming Donald Trump administration, Winter said, citing the condition ascribed to the GOP holds preventing Rosenworcel's reconfirmation. “It’s really sad” that her renomination “has been used like a political football” and “poker chip,” he said. One GOP Senate staffer told us last week that Rosenworcel’s reconfirmation is less likely following the recent elections (see 1611100050), although many agree it is a Senate leadership fight. Winter expanded on a news release that his group released earlier that day. Now is the ideal time to make PTC's priorities known before Congress, the FCC and the incoming Trump administration, Winter told us: “What we want to do is get out there early with a really solid laundry list.” He pointed favorably to Trump's having signed during the presidential campaign from the group Enough Is Enough to enforce obscenity laws. Winter also hopes that the Dec. 7 Senate Judiciary Antitrust Subcommittee hearing on AT&T buying Time Warner brings up the issue of network unbundling as a potential condition: “The bully pulpit is important.” He said the FCC should handle outstanding broadcast indecency complaints and that Congress and the agency should review the content rating system. Winter referred to meetings with Commerce Committee offices of both parties and chambers of Congress starting this summer and that all seem to believe that the content rating system “deserves a closer look.” He wants “some remedies” in that regard, Winter said, blasting the current system as “inaccurate, inconsistent, wholly lacking transparency.” It’s time for a public hearing on that, he said. Winter hopes that no legislation is necessary to achieve his goals, he said.
FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler showed possible willingness to step down at the end of the Obama administration, speaking Thursday during a Senate Commerce Committee oversight hearing. Some observers wondered if this may break loose a long-time logjam in the Senate. The chamber's Republicans for months sought a Wheeler commitment to step down, blocking the reconfirmation of Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel and spurring Democratic counter blocks on the floor of bipartisan telecom legislation coming out of the Commerce Committee.