FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr has enjoyed an office at the Portals for a little more than five months.
He may want to invest in some nice artwork or a Herman Miller aeron chair, since President Trump has signaled he wants him there through June 2023.
“PN1362” arrived Monday at the Senate Commerce Committee, sent by the White House. This presidential nomination seeks the reappointment of the Republican to a fresh five-year term as a Commissioner, starting July 1, 2018.
It marks the Trump Administration’s second attempt at keeping Carr at the FCC through June 2023.
Carr’s August 2017 confirmation as a Commissioner allowed him to effectively continue the term of former FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler. But, Senate Democrats expressed their deep reservations about giving their approval to allowing Carr to stay on any longer.
This resulted in a narrow approval of Carr’s nomination by the Senate Commerce Committee, which approved the nomination of Carr for a five-year term from July 1, 2018 on a 14-13 roll call vote. However, that wasn’t good enough — the procedure called for a voice vote approval, thus stopping Carr from what would have been nearly six years served on the Commission.
The August 2017 vote was less complicated for Democrat Jessica Rosenworcel. By voice vote, Rosenworcel — well liked on both sides of the aisle — was given the OK for a new five-year term that expires in 2020.
The Trump Administration is not out of line for its nomination of Carr for a five-year term. In 1997, Gloria Tristani was nominated by President Bill Clinton 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.
Carr has been at the Commission for more than five years and was most recently the FCC’s General Counsel.
In a short statement, Carr thanked President Trump for his renomination. “Serving on the Commission is a tremendous honor and privilege, and I am proud of the work we have already accomplished,” he said. “If reconfirmed, I look forward to many more years of working with my colleagues at the FCC on policies that will create jobs, spur
investment, and grow the economy for the benefit of all Americans.”
To little surprise, the White House’s nomination was greeted with positive sentiments from FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. “I congratulate Brendan on his nomination to serve a full five-year term at the FCC,” he said of his Republican colleague. “He is a distinguished public servant who has hit the ground running during his first months as a Commissioner, including by leading the FCC’s efforts to expedite the deployment of wireless infrastructure. I look forward to continuing to work with him in the months and years to come.”
PN1362 comes following additional comments from Democratic FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn that she’s not leaving anytime soon. Rumors had Clyburn perhaps exiting and succeeding her father, Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) in the House of Representatives.
Mignon Clyburn is in her second term as a Commissioner, and joined the FCC in February 2013. She began her service at the FCC in August 2009, after spending 11 years as a member of the sixth district on the Public Service Commission (PSC) of South Carolina. Clyburn served as its chair from July 2002 through June 2004.
Her term comes to an end on July 31. There’s been little discussion as to what will happen to Clyburn from August 1, or once the 116th Congress convenes.
