Confirmed! Rosenworcel Returns, Carr Drives In To FCC

0

The return of Jessica Rosenworcel as an FCC Commissioner is now complete. So is the official reappointment of FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, while Washington’s Welcome Wagon can now show up at The Portals to shower words of praise on Brendan Carr.


The U.S. Senate on Thursday confirmed the trio, bringing the FCC back to four Commissioners while ensuring Pai remains Chairman.

Pai congratulated Rosenworcel on her reappointment as a Democratic Commissioner, and applauded Carr’s arrival at the FCC.

“As I know from working with each of them for years, they have distinguished records of public service and will be valuable assets to the FCC in the years to come,” Pai said. “Their experience at the FCC makes them particularly well-suited to hit the ground running.  I’m pleased that the FCC will once again be at full strength and look forward to collaborating to close the digital divide, promote innovation, protect consumers, and improve the agency’s operations.”

While there was little controversy concerning Rosenworcel or Pai, there was some hubbub among Senate Democrats regarding Carr. While there was no issue with him filling out former Chairman Tom Wheeler’s term, which expires the end of June 2018, a five-year term to begin in July 2018 was met with displeasure from the Democratic bloc.

As RBR+TVBR reported, the Senate Commerce Committee approved the nomination of Carr for a five-year term from July 1, 2018 on a 14-13 roll call vote.

The thumbs’ up came despite fears from Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) that a 3-1 Republican-majority FCC could persist following the end of Mignon Clyburn’s term.

In 1997, Gloria Tristani was nominated to fill out a Commissioner’s term on the FCC, and then nominated for a five-year term following the end of the previous term.