FCC Nominee Tate Says She's a Uniter

[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Echoing then-Governor George Bush's self-characterization, FCC nominee Deborah Tate told the Senate Commerce Committee Tuesday that she is a uniter, pledging to look out for consumers, families and rural interests while working toward consensus if confirmed to the FCC. Tate, a Tennessee telecom regulator, only fielded a handful of questions during the hour-long hearing, and Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) said he would try to vote on her nomination and that of Democrat FCC Michael Copps by Wednesday and get them confirmed before Congress exits for the holidays. (See story on how Sen Stevens accelerated the process.) Tate indicated that she is: 1) concerned about rural issues, 2) not sure whether industry self-policing efforts on indecency will obviate the need for legislation, 3) concerned about applying the universal service funds to making broadband universally available, 4) thinking about the challenges of rewriting telecommunications legislation to take into account the broadband revolution and other changes, and 5) hoping "sunshine" rules can be updated and allow more than two FCC Commissioners to meet privately at the same time. Tate talked mostly in generalities about working together to find "sound, practical, reasonable solutions" and being a "voice for families and consumers." Current FCC Commissioner Michael Copps, up for reconfirmation, responded that he could have used her a couple of years ago, when the media ownership rule rewrite bitterly divided the FCC.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6290924?display=Breaking+News&referral=SUPP
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