FCC Nominee Wheeler Wins Senate Panel Approval

Tom Wheeler

The Senate Commerce Committee on Tuesday approved the nomination of Tom Wheeler as the next chairman of the FCC, although questions remain as to how quickly his selection will gain a floor vote.

According to Variety, Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W. Va.), chairman of the Commerce Committee, urged members to approve the nomination, but said it would be left up to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to work out when it would get a vote of the Senate.

Republicans want Wheeler’s nomination paired with a Republican nominee for another vacancy on the commission, but so far none has put forward. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) said that the White House would be making the nomination “very soon,” while Rockefeller vowed to move the Republican nominee through committee quickly.

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