Senate Commerce Committee Chair Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) did not get his first choice for the position of Chair of the FCC, but he said he respects the choice that was made by President Barack Obama.
Rockefeller has a history with current FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, and he and several dozen of his colleagues in the Senate sent a letter to Obama advocating her nomination.
However, as most readers of this space are by now aware, the nod went to investment capitalist and former industry lobbyist Tom Wheeler.
Rockefeller said, “I respect President Obama’s decision to nominate Tom Wheeler as Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. He has a long and diverse career in both communications policy and business. In the next two years, the FCC will work toward promoting universal access to broadband, expanding the E-Rate program, and making sure incentive auctions generate funds to create a communications network for our first responders. I look forward to meeting soon with Mr. Wheeler and discussing the challenges facing the Commission.”
Rockefeller is serving the final leg of his last term in the Senate. He is not standing for re-election in the 2014 cycle.
