Policymakers

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai announced that he intends to appoint Donald Stockdale to serve as chief of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau.

Stockdale is an economist and attorney with extensive FCC and private-sector experience. Stockdale will be working closely with Nese Guendelsberger who, having served as acting bureau chief, will continue to help lead the Bureau as senior deputy bureau chief. Meanwhile, Chairman Pai intends to appoint James Schlichting, who currently serves as senior deputy bureau chief in the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, to the same position in the International Bureau. Stockdale rejoins the Commission from Bates White Economic Consulting where he has been a partner. Prior to that, he worked on telecom regulatory and antitrust issues as a partner at Mayer Brown LLP. Mr. Stockdale first joined the FCC’s then-Common Carrier Bureau (now the Wireline Competition Bureau) in 1994 as an attorney advisor and later as deputy division chief and associate bureau chief for economics. He later served as director of research in the Office of Policy and Planning and finally as deputy bureau chief and chief economist for the Wireline Competition Bureau until he left the agency in 2011. He earned his doctorate in economics and
law degree from Yale University and bachelors degrees from Cambridge University and Yale.

The Open Technology Institute team is expanding!

Rachel Adler is an intern working on internet security issues who just finished her junior year at Princeton University. Andres Bascumbe is the program manager of TechCongress. Taliesin Gabriel is working on open internet issues. Jo Johnson is the new operations and communications associate with OTI, after interning with New America's central communications department for the past five months. Michael Lahanas, our summer communications intern, is a rising junior, political science major at Kenyon College, with a strong interest in the intersection of politics and tech. Mia Little is a rising 3L at the Washington College of Law at American University, and she's currently working in OTI as a Google Public Policy Fellow. Andrew Manley, working on open internet issues this summer, is a rising third year law student at the University of Colorado. Amir Nasr is a program associate working on broadband policies including net neutrality, municipal broadband and broadband deployment as well as wireless policy such as increasing the availability of unlicensed spectrum. Paul St. Clair, interning with Wireless Future, is a rising 2L at the Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law. Joseph Jai-sung Yoo, Ranking Digital Rights' Annenberg Fellow, is a Ph.D candidate in the School of Journalism at the University of Texas at Austin.

On June 13, President Donald Trump announced his intent to nominate Jessica Rosenworcel to serve as a Member of the Federal Communications Commission. Her nomination must still be sent to the Senate and confirmed there, but that is expected to happen without incident.

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai: “I congratulate Jessica Rosenworcel on the announcement that President Trump will nominate her to serve another term on the Federal Communications Commission. She has a distinguished record of public service, including the four-and-a-half years we worked together at this agency, and I look forward to working with her once again to advance the public interest.”

FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn: “I congratulate Jessica Rosenworcel on the announcement of the President's intent to nominate her to return as a Commissioner on the Federal Communications Commission. Jessica has been a tireless advocate for bridging the “homework gap,” a leader in the effort to modernize our 9-1-1 call centers, and a champion for freeing up more unlicensed spectrum. I look forward to working with her in the fight for an open internet, affordable broadband and strong consumer privacy protections."

FCC Commissioner Michael O'Rielly: “I appreciate the president announcing his intent to nominate my friend, former Commissioner Rosenworcel, for a new term at the Commission. If the Senate confirms her nomination, she will bring her expertise, insight and thoughtfulness to communications issues. I look forward to the prospect of returning to work with her on these matters.”

Adrianne Furniss, Benton Foundation Executive Director: “Benton is happy to hear that Jessica Rosenworcel could return to the Federal Communications Commission. As a commissioner, Rosenworcel was a leader on a number of issues. She worked to give new meaning to the FCC’s public safety mandate in the Digital Age. She helped modernize the E-rate program to ensure that all students have access to the latest education tools made possible by fast, affordable broadband. She recognized that those students also need reliable, robust broadband access at home so they can complete school assignments. Rosenworcel’s experience and leadership make her an ideal candidate to help shape the future of telecommunication policy.”

Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune (R-SD): "Sen. [John] Thune is pleased to see Jessica Rosenworcel’s nomination moving forward," said a spokesman for the Senate Commerce Committee. "While the Commerce Committee does not yet have the necessary paperwork to act on her nomination, in deciding how to proceed, the committee will be seeking more information about the status of the administration’s efforts to nominate a qualified candidate for the remaining vacancy at the FCC. The committee also expects Rosenworcel’s nomination will allow stalled bipartisan telecommunications legislation, including the MOBILE NOW Act, to pass the Senate and advance to the House of Representatives."

Senate Commerce Committee Ranking Member Bill Nelson (D-FL): “Hallelujah, better late than never. The Senate should now move quickly to confirm her and fulfil the promise that was made two years ago.”

Michael Copps, Former FCC Commissioner and special advisor to Common Cause: "Few people have ever walked through the doors of the Federal Communications Commission with as much knowledge, experience, and good judgment as Jessica Rosenworcel. I know from personal experience that she is among the most capable ever to hold the title of Commissioner, and her return to the Commission could not come at a more propitious time. With the Open Internet, media localism, and diversity all under threat, the public interest has never needed a public interest servant of her caliber so acutely. I urge Congress to confirm her with dispatch."

Public Knowledge President Gene Kimmelman: “We congratulate Jessica Rosenworcel and look forward to working closely to promote competition and fairness to all Americans. At a time when we face enormous challenges to prevent the FCC from undermining fundamental consumer protections, we are pleased that Senate Minority Leader Schumer and his colleagues indicate a commitment to fight for competition, protecting consumers’ pocketbooks and consumers’ rights by promoting nominees who will support our cause.”

Free Press President Craig Aaron: "We welcome Commissioner Rosenworcel's return to the FCC. She is one of the most knowledgeable commissioners ever to serve at the agency. She has a strong record of standing up for the public interest and ensuring the FCC has the legal authority it needs to stand up to the powerful industries it is supposed to monitor. We hope this renomination means the political games around her appointment are over and that she will soon be back at the commission to resist the efforts of Chairman Pai to dismantle so many of her major accomplishments."

AT&T senior EVP Bob Quinn: “AT&T is pleased that President Trump took action to ensure that the FCC will once again benefit from Jessica Rosenworcel’s considerable intellect. Her service as Commission Staff, Congressional Staff and FCC Commissioner provides a depth of experience and expertise rarely matched that will serve her well as she continues to be a leading voice on communications policy.”

American Cable Association President Matt Polka: "ACA praises President Trump for announcing his intent to nominate Jessica Rosenworcel to a new term at the Federal Communications Commission. Her experience in communications law and regulation and her diligence in working through the issues are truly impressive. ACA looks forward to working with Commissioner Rosenworcel at this critical time in the quest to ensure that all Americans have access to affordable, high-performance broadband. Upon her official nomination, ACA encourages the Senate to confirm her quickly."

NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association CEO SHirley Bloomfield: “NTCA, our membership and myself personally, congratulates Jessica Rosenworcel on being renominated to the FCC. In her initial tenure at the FCC and during her distinguished career as a key congressional and FCC staffer, she was a leader for the technology industry and a champion for consumers. She knows firsthand the importance of broadband to bring advancements in healthcare, education, public safety and economic development to rural America. We are pleased for the opportunity to work with her again once she is confirmed and to pursue our shared interests in ensuring sustainable and affordable broadband access for all Americans."

Robert McDowell, chief public policy advisor for Mobile Future and a former FCC commissioner: “I'm delighted that my friend and former colleague will be renominated to serve on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Commissioner Rosenworcel is a true intellectual who is always thoughtful and thorough in the pursuit of her duties. She brings strong experience and insight to the Commission and is a dedicated public servant who works to implement policies she believes best serve the public interest. Commissioner Rosenworcel will serve with distinction and new found energy after her hiatus. Mobile Future supports her renomination and confirmation and looks forward to working with her and the FCC around policies that will ensure our nation’s mobile future continues to drive innovation, job creation, competition, and economic growth.”

USTelecom CEO Jonathan Spalter: “Jessica Rosenworcel is a committed public servant and USTelecom is grateful that her work on behalf of consumers and innovators alike can continue at the Federal Communications Commission. I’ve personally worked with Commissioner Rosenworcel on a number of issues over the years, including the ‘homework gap’ and closing the digital divide, and I’ve always been impressed by her intellect, her integrity and her commitment to encouraging continued investment in our nation’s broadband networks and increasing choice and opportunities for consumers. USTelecom and its members will consider it a great privilege to continue to work with her on these important issues, and we encourage the Senate to confirm her nomination swiftly."

Benton is happy to hear that Jessica Rosenworcel could return to the Federal Communications Commission. As a commissioner, Rosenworcel was a leader on a number of issues. She worked to give new meaning to the FCC’s public safety mandate in the Digital Age. She helped modernize the E-rate program to ensure that all students have access to the latest education tools made possible by fast, affordable broadband. She recognized that those students also need reliable, robust broadband access at home so they can complete school assignments. Rosenworcel’s experience and leadership make her an ideal candidate to help shape the future of telecommunication policy.

A kid who grew up listening to radio is now in control of it. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai was the child of immigrants from India who arrived in the United States with nothing but a transistor radio and $10. FCC Chairman Pai grew up in Parsons (KS) and told us, “I still remember on summer nights tuning into KLKC 1540 am and hearing the Royals game, especially during that magical season of ’85. I remember also driving to school my parents would have on Paul Harvey. There’s something about his voice that I just found so appealing — it almost felt like he was speaking to me, as silly as that sounds. Even now when I hear his voice on some of the clips that remain online, it’s a familiar voice that really was a presence in my life for a long time. And so Paul Harvey and Dr. Demento — as odd as that combination is — would probably be the things that stick out to me.”

In what appears to be an unprecedented move, former Democratic Federal Communications Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel will also be future Democratic FCC commissioner if the Senate confirms her as expected. Shortly before midnight Tuesday, June 13, President Donald Trump signaled his intention to nominate Jessica Rosenworcel to a five-year term and a return engagement as a FCC commissioner.

The office of press secretary Sean Spicer announced the news in an email advisory. Rosenworcel, who served on the commission between 2012 and the end of 2016, was forced to exit at the end of 2016 after Congress failed to bring her renomination to a vote despite unanimous approval by the Senate Commerce Committee and support from both Democratic and Republican legislative leaders after Senate Republican leadership would not schedule a vote. President Trump withdrew Obama's renomination of Rosenworcel, which if she had been seated would have left the FCC at a 2-2 political divide once FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler exited.

Currently the FCC is down to only three members, two Republicans and a Democrat. The FCC can still render decisions on issues the lone Democrat disagrees with, and has on numerous occasions, most notably the decision to roll back Title II. But if Democrat Mignon Clyburn exits—her term is up at the end of June but she could serve until the end of 2018, the FCC will lack a quorum to vote on items. Rosenworcel would likely need to be paired with a nominee for the Republican seat—the Administration would not want to create a 2-2 tie, which would be the case unless Commissioner Mignon Clyburn exited. In that event, the Clyburn seat could be paired with the new Republican and Rosenworcel paired with FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, whose term also ends in June. One name being floated for the third Republican seat is Brendan Carr, currently the acting FCC General Counsel and a former-staffer in the office of Chairman Pai.

Federal Communications Commission Ajit Pai announced that the agency has chosen Lisa Fowlkes to serve as chief of the FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, continuing the work she has been doing as acting chief.

The Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau manages the FCC’s work pertaining to public safety, homeland security, national security, emergency management and preparedness, and disaster response and recovery. The bureau’s responsibilities include matters related to 911 communications service, public safety communications, network reliability and resiliency, emergency preparedness, and emergency alerting. Bureau staff also work closely with federal partners and local public safety entities.

Prior to serving as acting bureau chief, Ms. Fowlkes served as a deputy bureau chief responsible for development and implementation of FCC policies in the areas of network reliability and emergency alerting. She has also served in senior positions in the agency’s Enforcement Bureau, Office of Communications Business Opportunities, Office of General Counsel, the former Public Safety & Private Wireless Division, the former Cable Services Bureau, and as an attorney in the former Mass Media Bureau. Ms. Fowlkes has practiced law at a Washington, DC law firm. She earned her undergraduate degree from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania and her law degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.

This Public Notice serves as notice that, consistent with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai has appointed members to serve on the Communications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council (CSRIC). The CSRIC will hold its first meeting on Friday, June 23, 2017, beginning at 1:00 pm. Chairman Pai has designated Brian King, Senior Vice President, National Technology Service Delivery and Operations at T-Mobile USA, to serve as Chair of the CSRIC. A full list of CSRIC members is attached to this Public Notice.

A Q&A with Mark Lloyd, professor of communications at USC’s Annenberg School and former associate general counsel and chief diversity officer at the Federal Communications Commission from 2009-2012.

In the interview, Lloyd discusses media consolidation, saying, "The big challenge is that we have an FCC that is not really even looking at the impact of media consolidation on what it means to local communities, on what it means to whether or not folks in those local communities actually get the service that they need. So one of the things that I wrote about before, which is sort of obscure and sort of hard to figure out, is that there is this rule that local radio stations actually have to be in the local radio stations that they operate; it’s called the main control room....what’s happening now is not only that these rules are sort of vague and not really particularly well enforced; it’s that we have an administration that has sent signals to the broadcasters, to the telecommunications companies that provide Internet service, that these rules will not be enforced. They’ve been sent a very clear signal: you can do what it is that you want to do if you have a license to operate, if you are a broad band provider, you can do whatever you want, we’re not going to enforce net neutrality, whether it’s determined to be legal or not legal. This FCC is not going to enforce it."

In an effort to better understand the challenges facing rural broadband internet service providers, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai has been traveling west from Milwaukee (WI) toward Wyoming for the past week, making stops in rural towns across America. On June 9, he made a stop at Black Hills State University for a roundtable discussion with area telecommunications stakeholders. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune (R-SD) was also in attendance.

Asked, "Can you speak a little bit about the FCC’s efforts to increase broadband service to rural areas as it relates to closing the digital divide between rural and urban areas?" Chairman Pai said, "This to me is the No. 1 issue that we need to be focused on." Asked, "There’s been a pretty consistent characterization of you as an enemy of net neutrality. What’s your reaction to this label? Is it wrong?" Chairman Pai said, "I would hope that people of goodwill would focus on the facts, and the facts are that everyone supports a free and open internet....No one is talking about leaving consumers to the mercy of any competitive monopolist. All we’re talking about is how to best preserve that core value of the open internet and preserve the incentive to invest in the networks going forward."