President Biden Hasn't Named Picks For Posts To The FCC, Frustrating Democrats

President Biden has yet to nominate anyone to fill a vacant seat at the Federal Communications Commission. What's more, the term of current Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel is set to expire when Congress adjourns at the end of 2021. It adds up to a possible Republican majority on the FCC under a Democratic administration, which could stymie the party's efforts on a number of policies including net neutrality standards. Currently, the FCCis deadlocked with two Democratic commissioners, Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks, and two Republicans, Brendan Carr and Nathan Simington. Biden has the opportunity to nominate two people to the five-member commission: one for the vacant seat and one either to replace Rosenworcel or renew her term. But the White House hasn't put forward any names. "It's executive branch malpractice coming from an administration that has thus far been distinguished by extraordinary competence," says Andrew Jay Schwartzman, senior counselor at the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, which advocates for broadband access. More than two dozen senators have sent a letter to the White House urging Biden to nominate Rosenworcel to another term, arguing she would face few obstacles to confirmation since the Senate has approved her earlier. For Democrats, the top priority for the FCC is returning to the net neutrality standards set during the Obama administration and reversed under the Trump-era FCC.