It's August. Where's Biden's FCC Chair?

Jessica Rosenworcel just gaveled her seventh monthly meeting as Acting Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman and left-leaning telecom industry observers are growing increasingly anxious about the White House’s lack of a permanent choice. Speculation has run rampant about potential contenders, from former Obama-era FCC staffer Gigi Sohn to Free Press co-CEO Jessica González to sitting Commissioners Geoffrey Starks. The normally five-member FCC has been short a commissioner since January, and the resulting 2-2 deadlock has stalled Democratic agenda items like restoring net neutrality. And Rosenworcel’s regular term as commissioner will expire at year’s end unless the Senate reconfirms her. The Senate will have an especially tight calendar from September through December to sign off on nominations for both FCC chair and commissioner. If the White House and Senate do nothing, Republicans will have a 2-1 FCC majority come January, with Commissioner Starks becoming both sole Democrat and acting chair. “The timing would argue for a decision sooner rather than later,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT). “I’m very concerned about the Democratic majority, so I think there is an urgency about the decision.” Sen Blumenthal has been “hearing a number of different names” but believes “Rosenworcel is really head-and-shoulders above the others,” he added.