Sens Markey, Wyden Put Hold on FCC Commissioner Rosenworcel

There are now a pair of holds on a Senate vote on the nomination of Jessica Rosenworcel, and they are from members of her own party. Any senator can block a nomination by issuing such a hold. A spokesperson for the Senate Commerce Committee Republican majority identified the holds as being placed by Sens Ed Markey (D-MA) and Ron Wyden (D-OR). “Bipartisan technology legislation passed by the Commerce Committee should not face further delay from the Senate Minority Leader over a nominee Senate Democrats are now blocking," they said. Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) had vowed that a mobile broadband spectrum bill would not get a vote while Commissioner Rosenworcel's renomination vote was not scheduled for a vote in the full Senate. Looks now like Minority Leader Reid may have to talk to his own party about that. Other communications bills in the Senate Commerce Committee have also backed up behind that Minority Leader Reid pledge, apparently.

A spokesperson for Sen Markey's office confirmed the holds and explained them this way: "Sen. Markey wants a commissioner who is unequivocally committed to pro-consumer and pro-competition policies. Recent actions from Commissioner Rosenworcel on the proposed set-top box rule and other items have called that commitment into question." Commissioner Rosenworcel was widely believed to have had ongoing reservations about the set-top box proposal's impact on copyright and contracts, reservations not shared by FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler.