Jimm Phillips

FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel appeared on the cusp Friday of securing a healthy bipartisan Senate reconfirmation vote, which her supporters see as vindication after months of behind-the-scenes nomination drama that led some observers to view her as an underdog to remain at the commission just days before President Joe Biden picked her in October (see 2110080043). Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., filed for cloture on Rosenworcel Thursday, setting up a Monday vote that would be the penultimate hurdle before her reconfirmation. The Senate Commerce Committee, meanwhile, hasn’t finalized whether Democratic FCC nominee Gigi Sohn will get a vote at a potential mid-month executive session.

The Senate voted 64-27 Monday night to invoke cloture on FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel’s reconfirmation, as expected. The bipartisan cloture vote sets up a likely final confirmation floor vote as soon as Tuesday morning. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., hadn’t set a final vote time for Rosenworcel as of Monday night.

FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel's reconfirmation prospects grew stronger Wednesday after the Senate Commerce Committee advanced her nomination to the floor on a bipartisan vote, as expected (see 2111300064). A subsequent confirmation hearing for Democratic commission nominee Gigi Sohn, meanwhile, cemented perceptions that her chances of Senate approval are imperiled. Panel Republicans revealed the extent of their concerns about her candidacy during the hearing, over her views on net neutrality and other matters, also as expected (see 2111300068). At least three Republicans are considering holds on Sohn, including two over the tenor of her past tweets critical of major telecom and media companies. NTIA administrator nominee Alan Davidson also drew lawmakers' attention but little criticism.

Senate Commerce Committee members’ treatment of Democratic FCC nominee Gigi Sohn during her Wednesday confirmation hearing is likely to sharply divide along party lines, in sharp contrast to a potential overwhelming bipartisan panel vote to advance commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel’s reconfirmation to the full chamber (see 2111300064), lawmakers and lobbyists said in interviews. NTIA administrator nominee Alan Davidson may also get some senators’ attention during the hearing but is likely to avoid harsh questioning due to expectation that Sohn will be the main focus. The hearing will immediately follow the 10:15 a.m. Senate Commerce executive meeting in 253 Russell.

FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel is expected to easily advance out of the Senate Commerce Committee during a Wednesday meeting (see 2111230066) with unanimous support from panel Democrats and potentially most Republicans too, lawmakers and lobbyists said in interviews. Democratic FTC nominee Alvaro Bedoya is expected to get far less Republican support, amid some members’ threats to place holds on his confirmation (see 2111170059). The panel’s reception for Democratic FCC nominee Gigi Sohn is expected to divide sharply along party lines, while NTIA administrator nominee Alan Davidson could draw significantly less attention (see 2111300068). The meeting will begin at 10:15 a.m. in 253 Russell.

NAB and board member Byron Allen appeared to be partially at odds Monday on FCC nominee Gigi Sohn, before her Wednesday Senate Commerce Committee confirmation hearing (see 2111230066). NAB wants Sohn to submit an amended ethics agreement with more information on her association with broadcast programming streaming service Locast, but Allen declared his strong support for her confirmation. Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy and a group of five Republican current and former elected officials said Monday they support Sohn, whose nomination has already drawn strong GOP pushback (see 2111170071). Sohn and NTIA administrator nominee Alan Davidson, who’s also to appear before the Senate Commerce panel, highlighted improving U.S. broadband access and affordability, in responses to prehearing questionnaires.

Senate Commerce Committee Republicans’ questioning of Democratic FCC nominee Gigi Sohn at a planned Wednesday confirmation hearing (see 2111230066) is likely to partially focus on her views on the fairness doctrine in a bid to suggest her joining the commission would increase the chances the agency would seek to bring back the long-rescinded rules, lawmakers and officials told us. Sohn backers question the likely GOP focus on that issue, arguing that while she and others in the past preferred bringing back the rules, such erstwhile supporters see virtually no momentum in its favor under a 3-2 Democratic majority.

House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Mike Doyle, D-Pa., told us he still intends to wait (see 2106300077) to hold an FCC oversight hearing until after the Senate confirms Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and Democratic commission nominee Gigi Sohn, amid renewed pressure from House Commerce Committee GOP leaders. Panel ranking member Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., and Communications ranking member Bob Latta, R-Ohio, argue it has “been over one year” since commissioners testified before the subcommittee. The most recent hearing was in September 2020 (see 2009170068).

House Communications Subcommittee member Rep. G.K. Butterfield, D-N.C., said Thursday he won’t seek reelection next year. Butterfield, a former Congressional Black Caucus chairman, had earlier this month been eyeing whether to seek the subcommittee’s lead Democratic seat when current leader Mike Doyle, D-Pa., retires (see 2111120002). “I’m disappointed, terribly disappointed, with the Republican-majority legislature for again gerrymandering our state’s congressional districts and putting their party’s politics over the best interests of North Carolina,” Butterfield said. “While I am hopeful that the courts will ultimately overturn this partisan map and see that a fair map is enacted, I have made the difficult decision that … it is time for me to retire and allow the torch to be passed to someone who shares the values of the district and can continue the work.” Analysts believe the state’s redistricting process significantly altered Butterfield's existing district and set it up to be far more competitive in the 2022 election. Butterfield is the fourth House Communications member to announce plans to leave the chamber. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., like Doyle, is retiring. Rep. Billy Long, R-Mo, is running for the Senate seat being vacated by Rules Committee ranking member Roy Blunt (R). Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., is believed to be mulling a bid for the Senate seat being vacated by Appropriations Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D).

House Democratic leaders were optimistic Thursday they were on the cusp of holding a final vote that night or Friday on the Build Back Better Act budget reconciliation package (HR-5376) amid expectations that the Congressional Budget Office would publish a final cost estimate that afternoon. The CBO released its estimate earlier in the day for the House Commerce Committee’s portion of HR-5376, which includes $500 million for a new FTC data privacy and security bureau, $500 million for NTIA connected device vouchers, $490 million for next-generation 911 tech upgrades and $300 million for the FCC Emergency Connectivity Fund.