Biden FCC Picks Get Separate Hearings After Criticism of One

The Senate Commerce Committee will consider President Joe Biden’s nominee to head the U.S. Federal Communications Commission on Nov 17 but hold off consideration of his choice for a fifth commissioner who has drawn Republican criticism. The committee will hold a hearing on Jessica Rosenworcel’s nomination for a full term as chairwoman of the FCC. A hearing is expected several weeks later for FCC nominee Gigi Sohn and another nominee, Alan Davidson, who would head the National Telecommunications and Information Administration at the Commerce Department. Republicans have asked for more time to consider Sohn and Davidson. The nominations of Rosenworcel, the acting chairwoman of the FCC, and Sohn require approval by the closely-divided Senate. Their confirmation would produce a Democratic majority at the five-seat agency that’s been in a 2-to-2 partisan deadlock since a Republican left in January. The prospect of delay alarmed Sohn’s supporters. Opponents are “smearing Gigi’s record,” tweeted Craig Aaron, president of the public policy group Free Press. “Gigi Sohn is a brilliant attorney and advocate with a distinguished record inside and outside the FCC.”