FCC Nominee Gets Panel Approval

Starks During Hearing

The Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday approved Geoffrey Starks, a Democratic nominee for the FCC, sending his nomination to the full Senate.

Starks, a current official in the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau, would replace Mignon Clyburn, another Democrat who served nearly a decade at the commission. The Senate panel approved him in a unanimous voice vote.

Prior to joining the FCC in 2015, Starks was a senior counsel to former Deputy Attorney General Jim Cole during the Obama administration.

If he is confirmed by the full Senate as expected, Starks will join Jessica Rosenworcel as the only Democrats on the five-member commission.

He’ll be joining the FCC at a time when the Republican majority has been rolling back major regulations on the broadcasting and telecom industries.