Julius Genachowski, President Obama's nominee for Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, was due to be considered for confirmation next Tuesday by the Senate Commerce Committee, but the process will be postponed until sometime after Memorial Day, as Republicans continue their search for an FCC Commissioner nominee from their own party who could be installed at the same time as Genachowski.
Both Democrats and Republicans reportedly agreed to the delay. The delay increases the likelihood that the important June 12 digital TV transition deadline will pass with an FCC that has only three commissioners on it. Not that there will be any emergency actions to be taken by the FCC between now and then, but you have to wonder how high the FCC workload will pile up before Genachowski comes on board. FCC Commissioner Michael Copps remains the acting FCC Chairman, and Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein remains on board even though he already has been chosen to head the Rural Utilities Service program.
For more:
- The Wall Street Journal has this story [1]
Related article
Mignon Clyburn recently was nominated for FCC Commissioner [2]
Links:
[1] http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20090507-725635.html
[2] http://www.fiercetelecom.com/story/clyburn-nominated-fcc-seat/2009-05-01