Senate Commerce Committee plans quick turnaround for FCC nominees

The Senate Commerce Committee is planning to pull together a wide-ranging confirmation hearing for the week of November 15 to hear from a bevy of President Joe Biden’s telecommunications nominees. The Federal Communications Commission nominees are Chair Jessica Rosenworcel, who’s up for another term, and new commissioner pick Gigi Sohn. As Politico previously reported, Sohn may face a tougher time given the Senate’s 50-50 split and uncertainty about where certain moderate Democrats like Sen Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) may fall. Sinema is a member of Senate Commerce, so this hearing could offer clues about how she’s leaning. Sen Maria Cantwell (D-WA) said the hearing’s precise date and the slate of nominees to be considered are still in flux. The other nominees in the mix would be Alan Davidson, Biden’s pick for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, and Alvaro Bedoya, his nominee to fill out the Federal Trade Commission. Although nominees typically try to meet individually with senators, this session will be the highest-profile public opportunity for members to pepper them with questions, from how they will approach interagency airwave debates to what types of broadband and media regulation they will seek. If the nominees are confirmed, they’d create tie-breaking Democratic majorities on the FCC and FTC.