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Friday, December 9, 2011

The FCC nominees clear a Senate committee, but not a "hold"

FCC President Obama's two nominees for the Federal Communications Commission cleared with ease the Senate Commerce Committee, but in no way does that mean they will be confirmed. A bi-partisan group of Senators voted to move forward the nominations of Jessica Rosenworcel and Ajit Pai. However, Iowa Republican Senator Charles Grassley again vowed to prevent a vote on the Democratic President's nominees, demanding the FCC first answer questions regarding its treatment of a company called LightSquared. The wireless company has planned a nationwide wireless network, but critics of the plan believe their network will interfere with GPS systems. Grassley says "As a last resort to try to exhort more transparency and accountability from the FCC, I'll place a hold on consideration of the agency nominees on the Senate floor." The next stop for Pai, a Republican and Rosenworcel, a Democrat, is the full Senate floor for a vote, where Grassley will be waiting to potentially block their nomination.

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