FCC Nominee Genachowski to Get His Day Before the Senate
BY Nancy Scola | Thursday, May 7 2009
It's been more than two months since President Obama picked Julius Genachowski to serve as chair of the Federal Communications Commission. Obama heaped high praise on his former campaign advisor at the time, saying of him, "I can think of no one better than Julius Genachowski to serve as Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. He will bring to the job diverse and unparalleled experience in communications and technology, with two decades of accomplishment in the private sector and public service. I know him as the son of immigrants who carries a deep appreciation for this country and the American dream; and as the proud father of three children working with his wife Rachel to be responsible parents in this digital age."
Genachowski, though, has yet to get started on the job, his nomination still pending before the Senate. What's the hold up? Well, it seems that Senate Republicans wanted to pair Genechowski with a Republican nominee for the FCC -- a kind of two-fer that would smooth the path of the GOP's pick. (The FCC maintains a 3-2 split on party affiliation.) Obama, and by extension, Senate Democrats, are eager to get Genechowski installed, especially with $7.2 billion in stimulus funding for broadband at play. That desire could, the thinking goes, let Republicans get through a more industry-leaning representative on the FCC than they might otherwise get.
In the mysterious ways of the Senate, Genechowski's confirmation has just popped up on the Senate Commerce Committee's schedule, the Wall Street Journal reports. He'll go before Jay Rockefeller's committee at 11am on Tuesday, May 12th. Details here. What's still unclear: whether Senate Republicans have their own nominee waiting in the wings.