Democratic House Communications Subcommittee leadership of Rep. Mike Doyle, D-Pa., bodes well for the party in the new Congress, his colleagues told us Thursday after Commerce Committee Democrats selected him as subcommittee ranking member (see 1701120021). He will take over for Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., who didn’t seek the position, and he said in an interview he will focus on preserving consumer protections from the FCC net neutrality order. He has been in office since 1995.
Democratic House Communications Subcommittee leadership of Rep. Mike Doyle, D-Pa., bodes well for the party in the new Congress, his colleagues told us Thursday after Commerce Committee Democrats selected him as subcommittee ranking member (see 1701120021). He will take over for Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., who didn’t seek the position, and he said in an interview he will focus on preserving consumer protections from the FCC net neutrality order. He has been in office since 1995.
Senate and House lawmakers reintroduced the Improving Rural Call Quality and Reliability Act, which would address call completion problems. The measure cleared the House last Congress but stalled on the Senate floor amid concerns about the renomination of then-FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel. “I’ll keep working to strengthen rural communications and make sure all Americans can stay connected regardless of where they live,” said Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., who introduced the bill. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., is a co-sponsor and called himself a “strong supporter.” Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., also is a co-sponsor. Rep. Dave Young, R-Iowa, introduced the House companion, with the backing of Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt. This legislation is one of those that Thune told us may be part of a package of bills that could advance this year, potentially in a roll call vote on the floor (see 1701040067). The reintroduction "is another important step in the long road to resolving call quality and reliability issues that have plagued rural Americans for years," NTCA CEO Shirley Bloomfield said. WTA "members and their customers have been dealing with this issue for far too long," said Vice President-Government Affairs Derrick Owens, backing the bill. "This bill should be adopted," said NARUC President Robert Powelson.
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.
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.