Obama Renominates Rosenworcel To FCC

Jessica Reosenworcel

President Barack Obama renominated Federal Communications Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel on Wednesday, in a last-ditch effort by Democrats to put her back on the panel, reports The Wall Street Journal.

Mr. Obama had previously renominated Ms. Rosenworcel, but the Senate didn’t confirm her to a second term on the five-member panel, in a complex partisan dispute last year. Ms. Rosenworcel’s tenure on the panel officially ended earlier this week, with the expiration of the last Congress.

Wednesday’s nomination was submitted to the new Congress that convened this week, but she faces the same hurdles this year.

Unless the Senate confirms her before President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20, Mr. Trump would be free to withdraw her nomination.

the nomination underscores Ms. Rosenworcel’s continued support among Democrats, and might help sway the incoming president to support her as the panel’s second Democrat when Mr. Trump nominates a third Republican to take Mr. Wheeler’s place. Some industry observers expect the new president to designate current GOP commissioner Ajit Pai, who is the senior Republican on the panel, as the acting chairman sometime this month.