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.
There were new questions and even doubts about the FCC's planned actions on business data services and other items after key lawmakers Tuesday warned the agency not to take controversial steps during the transition from President Barack Obama to President-elect Donald Trump. The FCC is scheduled to vote on a BDS order and Further NPRM, among other items, at its monthly meeting Thursday (see 1610270054). Also on the commissioners' meeting agenda are items on a mobility fund Phase II, roaming and video description. A draft set-top box order and other items are also pending on circulation. The BDS action was already seen as complicated by the Republican election victory (see 1611100041).
There were new questions and even doubts about the FCC's planned actions on business data services and other items after key lawmakers Tuesday warned the agency not to take controversial steps during the transition from President Barack Obama to President-elect Donald Trump. The FCC is scheduled to vote on a BDS order and Further NPRM, among other items, at its monthly meeting Thursday (see 1610270054). Also on the commissioners' meeting agenda are items on a mobility fund Phase II, roaming and video description. A draft set-top box order and other items are also pending on circulation. The BDS action was already seen as complicated by the Republican election victory (see 1611100041).
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.
The future of the FCC draft set-top plan is seen as bound up in the questions of how long Chairman Tom Wheeler and Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel will remain in their seats, industry officials on both sides of the set-top issue told us. In the wake of Republican Donald Trump's win of the White House Tuesday, no one is sure what the answers to those questions are, many stakeholders agree. Rosenworcel has been seen as the swing vote on Wheeler's set-top plan (see 1611030055) since it was pulled from the September commissioner meeting (see 1609290076). The question of her reconfirmation during the lame-duck Congress and the amount of time Wheeler has left to convince her to vote for his plan are seen important factors in the fate of the item.
The future of the FCC draft set-top plan is seen as bound up in the questions of how long Chairman Tom Wheeler and Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel will remain in their seats, industry officials on both sides of the set-top issue told us. In the wake of Republican Donald Trump's win of the White House Tuesday, no one is sure what the answers to those questions are, many stakeholders agree. Rosenworcel has been seen as the swing vote on Wheeler's set-top plan (see 1611030055) since it was pulled from the September commissioner meeting (see 1609290076). The question of her reconfirmation during the lame-duck Congress and the amount of time Wheeler has left to convince her to vote for his plan are seen important factors in the fate of the item.
Commissioners approved ISP privacy rules Thursday in a party-line FCC vote, as expected, largely as proposed by Chairman Tom Wheeler (see 1610260065). ISPs lost in their attempts to get the agency to drop a plan to classify web browsing and application use history as sensitive data, requiring opt-in consent. Commissioner Mignon Clyburn was unsuccessful in her push for restrictions on ISPs inserting mandatory arbitration clauses in service contracts, though the majority did commit to seeking comment on that issue in early 2017.
Commissioners approved ISP privacy rules Thursday in a party-line FCC vote, as expected, largely as proposed by Chairman Tom Wheeler (see 1610260065). ISPs lost in their attempts to get the agency to drop a plan to classify web browsing and application use history as sensitive data, requiring opt-in consent. Commissioner Mignon Clyburn was unsuccessful in her push for restrictions on ISPs inserting mandatory arbitration clauses in service contracts, though the majority did commit to seeking comment on that issue in early 2017.