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.
Senate Democrats are signaling that Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel’s time at the FCC may not be up despite her upcoming forced exit. “I hope she'll be renominated and the Senate lives up to its word,” Commerce Committee ranking member Bill Nelson, D-Fla., told us in a statement Monday. Members of the upper chamber left town early Saturday without reconfirming her, which means she will have to leave the agency by Jan. 3, as expected (see 1612080056). That would create a 2-2 partisan split among remaining members.
Senate Democrats are signaling that Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel’s time at the FCC may not be up despite her upcoming forced exit. “I hope she'll be renominated and the Senate lives up to its word,” Commerce Committee ranking member Bill Nelson, D-Fla., told us in a statement Monday. Members of the upper chamber left town early Saturday without reconfirming her, which means she will have to leave the agency by Jan. 3, as expected (see 1612080056). That would create a 2-2 partisan split among remaining members.
No cloture petition was filed by our deadline Friday to reconfirm FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, further diminishing chances that the Senate will approve her before leaving imminently. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., told us earlier Thursday a cloture vote would likely be required to secure her approval and didn’t believe it was possible due to limited time (see 1612080056). Republicans and Democrats have shown frustration with leadership negotiations on a new Rosenworcel deal, resulting in an unfiled cloture petition, as expected for more than a week.
No cloture petition was filed by our deadline Friday to reconfirm FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, further diminishing chances that the Senate will approve her before leaving imminently. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., told us earlier Thursday a cloture vote would likely be required to secure her approval and didn’t believe it was possible due to limited time (see 1612080056). Republicans and Democrats have shown frustration with leadership negotiations on a new Rosenworcel deal, resulting in an unfiled cloture petition, as expected for more than a week.
Senate prospects for reconfirming Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel seemed to plummet Thursday, which would mean she would have to soon leave the FCC. The approval is believed to require filing for cloture, a timely process that no longer fits into expectations for the Senate’s remaining minimal time. FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler committed to Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., earlier this week that he would resign immediately if it would ensure Rosenworcel’s confirmation, an agency spokesman confirmed.