UPDATE President Joe Biden intends to select government attorney Anna Gomez to fill the empty third Democratic seat on the FCC. The move would give the agency its first Democratic majority of his presidency, according to a Bloomberg source.
After more than two years of partisan 2-2 deadlock, her nomination and confirmation would give the agency the ability to act on controversial issues such as restoring Net Neutrality rules that prevent ISPs from slowing or barring content. Gomez’s selection may be announced soon. The White House declined comment.
If confirmed, she would be the first Latina to sit on the FCC since 2001, Inside Towers reported. The Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the National Hispanic Media Coalition have urged the president to appoint a Latino to the Commission.
In January, Gomez joined the State Department to lead preparations for the International Telecommunication Union World Radiocommunication Conference 2023, to be held in Dubai, notes Bloomberg. From 2009 to 2013, she was deputy assistant secretary at NTIA where she led policy on international telecommunications and satellite spectrum, and efforts to expand broadband access. She earlier served for over a decade in various management positions at the FCC, and on the White House staff under President Bill Clinton, according to a biography by NTIA. After leaving the NTIA, Gomez was a partner at D.C. law firm Wiley (formerly called Wiley Rein).
Several lobbying organizations have told Congress the FCC needs a full complement of five commissioners to address broadband inequities. Gomez, with a long resume of Washington jobs including private law practice and work at two agencies, needs to win confirmation from the Senate where Democrats hold a slim majority.
Gigi Sohn, the previous nominee, withdrew her name from consideration after more than a year of strife that impacted the advocacy attorney and her family, Inside Towers reported. She held out hope in February that the FCC can “move past recent gridlock and pursue a pro-civil rights agenda.”
By Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief
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