Senate Green Lights Rosenworcel As FCC Chair

Jessica Rosenworcel

The Senate on Tuesday confirmed Jessica Rosenworcel to be the head of the Federal Communications Commission by a 68-31 vote.

Rosenworcel has served as FCC chair since January. Her term was set to expire at the end of the year.

A familiar face in Congress, Rosenworcel garnered bipartisan support during her nomination hearing.

Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee ranking member Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) praised her despite disagreeing with some of her policy objectives.

Rosenworcel may begin her new term, which will run until 2025, without a Democratic majority at the agency.

That composition has hindered the Biden administration’s goal of reinstating net neutrality rules.

The Senate Commerce Committee on Dec. 1 held a hearing for Gigi Sohn, Biden’s pick for FCC commissioner.

Sohn’s future in the Senate is more precarious, with Republicans increasingly voicing their opposition to her. It is unclear whether she has full backing from Democratic members of the Senate.

It's the honor of my lifetime to lead the @FCC and serve as the first permanent female Chair. Thank you to the President and Senate for entrusting me with this responsibility. There's work to do to make sure modern communications reach everyone, everywhere. Now let's get to it.

— Jessica Rosenworcel (@JRosenworcel) December 7, 2021