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.
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.
Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., expects all the prime FCC proceedings to face scrutiny Thursday during an oversight hearing featuring FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler and the four other commissioners. This is the first Senate Commerce oversight hearing since March and the first since Thune took to the Senate floor in July to disparage the style and substance of Wheeler’s time leading the agency (see 1607070049).
Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., expects all the prime FCC proceedings to face scrutiny Thursday during an oversight hearing featuring FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler and the four other commissioners. This is the first Senate Commerce oversight hearing since March and the first since Thune took to the Senate floor in July to disparage the style and substance of Wheeler’s time leading the agency (see 1607070049).
Little time remains for moving the bipartisan Improving Rural Call Quality and Reliability Act (S-827/HR-2566) across the finish line this year, but lawmakers in both chambers are gearing up to try to score a victory. Much may depend on whether Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., wants to block hotline consideration of S-827 due to frustration over the lack of reconfirmation of FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, a senior Senate Republican said. Its Democratic sponsor, Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, is committed to enacting the bill this year.
Little time remains for moving the bipartisan Improving Rural Call Quality and Reliability Act (S-827/HR-2566) across the finish line this year, but lawmakers in both chambers are gearing up to try to score a victory. Much may depend on whether Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., wants to block hotline consideration of S-827 due to frustration over the lack of reconfirmation of FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, a senior Senate Republican said. Its Democratic sponsor, Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, is committed to enacting the bill this year.
The FCC is expected to have a busy few months before the Nov. 8 election as it finalizes key parts of Chairman Tom Wheeler’s remaining agenda. The set-top box order appears headed for a vote at the Sept. 29 open meeting (see 1608240064). Orders overhauling the special access market and imposing privacy rules on ISPs are expected at commissioners' October meeting, agency and industry officials told us. The growing consensus is Wheeler may have several additional months as chairman if Hillary Clinton wins the presidency (see 1608240057). In reality, the time to move his agenda is limited, the officials said. The FCC didn't comment Friday.
The FCC is expected to have a busy few months before the Nov. 8 election as it finalizes key parts of Chairman Tom Wheeler’s remaining agenda. The set-top box order appears headed for a vote at the Sept. 29 open meeting (see 1608240064). Orders overhauling the special access market and imposing privacy rules on ISPs are expected at commissioners' October meeting, agency and industry officials told us. The growing consensus is Wheeler may have several additional months as chairman if Hillary Clinton wins the presidency (see 1608240057). In reality, the time to move his agenda is limited, the officials said. The FCC didn't comment Friday.
If Hillary Clinton wins the presidency, Tom Wheeler could remain FCC chairman into the summer of 2017, judging from the limited history of similar transitions, and on recent speculation about his plans. Former Chairman Reed Hundt is among those who said they see a prolonged Wheeler chairmanship as likely. Industry lawyers and former FCC officials, Democratic and Republican, said the outlook has evolved in recent weeks. Just a month ago, many said they expected Wheeler to leave in January, but they say it now looks likely he will keep his job well into 2017 should Clinton win to finish work left undone after she is sworn in Jan. 20. Clinton is ahead in most polls.
Commissioner Mike O'Rielly says the FCC has made strides in resolving his concerns that commissioners faced censorship on pending agency items while Chairman Tom Wheeler and his staff were free to selectively disclose matters. "Thankfully, we've had decent progress toward fixing this one process area," O'Rielly said, responding to our query. However, questions remain about a leak that FCC and congressional Republicans say helped scuttle a bipartisan Lifeline compromise among commissioners March 31, which is being investigated by the agency's inspector general. Responses to a Communications Daily Freedom of Information Act request detail much late congressional lobbying of the FCC on Lifeline.