An FCC Contender in Waiting?

Before the Senate voted to bring the Federal Communications Commission back to full strength, the White House informally discussed a potential slot on the commission with Senate Commerce Committee aide Crystal Tully. The conversations came amid a flurry of speculation about FCC Chairman Ajit Pai’s future at the agency, though he said in November he expects to stay on for the next two years. The talks were preliminary, given that it’s unclear when a Republican seat will open up. Commissioner Mike O’Rielly’s term expires in June, but he can stay on as late as the end of 2020. 

Tully, if you're scoring at home, is described by some as a well-qualified candidate with strong Senate support, should a seat become available. “When there is an opening, I know she gets talked about,” said Sen. John Thune (R-SD). He named her deputy staff director of the Senate Commerce Committee after she served as policy director and counsel for communications and technology. Her portfolio has included work on legislation related to online sex trafficking, 5G infrastructure deployment and the slew of telecommunications provisions in 2018’s omnibus spending bill. Her background also includes stints at the Competitive Carriers Association and Charter Communications.