Rosenworcel, Pai Nominations Get Senate Committee Nod; Grassley Says He'll Hold Up Final OK

Grassley

As expected, the Senate Commerce Committee TODAY (12/8) voted to approve the nominations of Democrat JESSICA ROSENWORCEL and AJIT VARADARAJ PAI to the FCC.  The approval came in a voice vote this morning.

The nominations now go to the floor of the Senate for a vote, and continue to face a blocking by Sen. CHUCK GRASSLEY (R-IA), who has repeatedly insisted that he will hold the confirmations up until the FCC produces the documentation he is requesting from the LIGHTSQUARED proceeding.  GRASSLEY, after the committee vote, released a statement in which he said, "More than seven months ago, I started asking the FCC for information that would shed light on the agency's apparent rush to approve the LIGHTSQUARED project.  The agency has provided none of the information and found excuses not to provide the information.  Even the private companies involved, LIGHTSQUARED and HARBINGER CAPITAL, have promised to be more forthcoming than the FCC as a public agency funded by the taxpayers.  LIGHTSQUARED and HARBINGER CAPITAL promised to provide me with requested documents on their dealings with the FCC this week.  As a last resort to try to exhort more transparency and accountability from the FCC, I'll place a hold on consideration of the agency nominees on the Senate floor.  This agency controls a big part of the economy.  It conducts the public's business.  And the public's business ought to be public."

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