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FCC Returns to Work, But Wheeler Nomination Blocked

After Congress resolved its ugly dispute the government sputtered back to operation this morning, the FCC website coming back online with a message that some FCC employees could telework. More importantly for the FCC, the end of the partisan logjam means the Senate can now move forward with getting FCC boss nominee Tom Wheeler confirmed.

Wheeler, who has broad support from the telecom industry (though those same close ties to industry have split consumer advocate opinion), is expected to be confirmed as soon as today or tomorrow. That's assuming Ted Cruz, a Tea Party favorite that played a starring role in the government shutdown, doesn't carry through on promises to block the Wheeler nomination over possible political ad financing disclosure requirements.

Update: It does appear that Wheeler's nomination was blocked, with Ted Cruz playing a starring role:

quote:
At Wheeler's hearing in June, Cruz threatened to block the nomination unless Wheeler vowed not to require more disclosure about the groups behind political TV ads.

"If he continues to refuse to answer that question, I may well support using other procedural means to delay this nomination," Cruz said at the time.

Most recommended from 9 comments



tshirt
Premium Member
join:2004-07-11
Snohomish, WA

2 recommendations

tshirt

Premium Member

Ted cruz is...

...once again ignoring the reason FCC commissioners are SUPPOSED to be insulated from the political "fads" (like the tea party) They SHOULD be doing their work in a political vacuum, using SCIENCE and existing treaties to determine regulation.
Political messaging and revealing it's source should be regulated under campaign finance laws (imho REQUIRES FULL DISCLOSURE of EVERY DOLLARS source)