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).
House Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden, R-Ore., asked the White House to renominate FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and to nominate commissioners for the two open spots, one expected to go to a Democrat and one to a Republican, Walden said Tuesday during a speech before the Media Institute. He detailed Commerce's telecom goals as Pai sat at one of the first tables before him. Walden often joked and broke from prepared remarks.
House Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden, R-Ore., asked the White House to renominate FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and to nominate commissioners for the two open spots, one expected to go to a Democrat and one to a Republican, Walden said Tuesday during a speech before the Media Institute. He detailed Commerce's telecom goals as Pai sat at one of the first tables before him. Walden often joked and broke from prepared remarks.
Chairman Ajit Pai will further change the way the FCC releases information to the news media and public, he said in a statement Monday, vowing not to release items publicly or to the news media until all commissioners have seen them. “During the past few years, the Chairman’s Office often briefed reporters or issued a blog about matters to be voted upon at the FCC’s monthly meetings before sharing those matters with Commissioners,” Pai said in a statement. “As a Commissioner, I thought that actions like these were inappropriate and disrespectful of other Commissioners.”
Chairman Ajit Pai will further change the way the FCC releases information to the news media and public, he said in a statement Monday, vowing not to release items publicly or to the news media until all commissioners have seen them. “During the past few years, the Chairman’s Office often briefed reporters or issued a blog about matters to be voted upon at the FCC’s monthly meetings before sharing those matters with Commissioners,” Pai said in a statement. “As a Commissioner, I thought that actions like these were inappropriate and disrespectful of other Commissioners.”
State commissioner cheered the transparency measure adopted last week by FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. The pilot project to make draft agenda items public three weeks before commissioner meetings is a “breath of fresh air” because it puts state commissioners on a more level playing field with industry lobbyists at the federal agency, NARUC President Robert Powelson said in a Friday interview. He and other state commissioners said they hope it’s the first of many transparency enhancements at the agency. Commissioners from both parties and multiple states last year told us it should be a priority for the FCC to answer concerns about transparency and politicization at the agency (see 1608230009). Friday, Pai tapped Commissioner Michael O’Rielly to lead three federal-state groups.