Jessica Rosenworcel and Ajit Pai are a step closer to serving as the newest commissioners at the Federal Communications Commission.
The Senate Commerce Committee on Thursday approved their nominations, which are now headed to the entire Senate for a vote.
But there could be a problem. Sen. Charles Grassley, a Republican from Iowa, has affirmed a commitment to hold up the nominations unless the FCC releases information he requested in connection with LightSquared, an emerging high-speed mobile operator that has faced criticism over concerns that its network could interfere with GPS devices. A spokesman for Grassley told Broadcasting & Cable following today's vote that the senator doesn't have a change of plans and would issue a statement.
Rosenworcel and Pai have significant experience as government attorneys at the FCC, on Capitol Hill and within the U.S. Department of Justice. Pending confirmation by the Senate, they would replace veteran FCC Commissioner Michael Copps and fill the post previously held by Meredith Attwell Baker, a Republican who left the commission earlier this year to work for Comcast Corp.
The agency currently is staffed by four commissioners, three Democrats – FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, Mignon Clyburn and Copps – and one Republican, Robert McDowell.
