UPDATE There’s still no nomination hearing on the Senate Commerce Committee slated for FCC nominee Gigi Sohn. That’s despite increased lobbying by supporters, both on and off The Hill, to fill the empty third Democratic seat at the agency.
NewStreet Research Policy Analyst Blair Levin writes in a client note that Democratic Senators actually did schedule one for tomorrow, February 2. But that’s changed, “apparently due to still shuffling Committee assignments,” notes Levin.
What does the delay tell us about her chances? Nothing. “The uncertainty about the hearing reflects start-up issues with the new Senate, not issues with the nomination,” he writes. “It also signals that Committee Democrats have prioritized her nomination and intend to move quickly.” But Levin adds that provides no clarity or new information about her chances in the full Senate.
FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel was asked after last week’s monthly meeting what she thinks about the process, given that at best, it could take at least a month to seat Sohn, even if everything goes the Democrats’ way. “I believe this agency was designed to have five Commissioners, so I hope that she is able to move through the process. She is a nominee who knows this agency well and we wish her the best as she navigates this process on Capitol Hill.”
Rosenworcel then listed several issues the FCC has accomplished over the past two years, even with a 2-2 deadlock. That included implementing the Affordable Connectivity Program to help close the homework gap, and holding two spectrum auctions involving mid-band spectrum for 5G. She also touted the broadband location map initiative “that is light years ahead of anything the agency previously accomplished in that department.”
And yet, Rosenworcel added: “We have done a lot and we will continue to plow forward no matter who sits here and how many [Commissioners] we have. But I know that we were built to operate with five and I hope that happens sooner rather than later.”
By Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief
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