Bush Announces Intent to Nominate McDowell to FCC
President Bush said Fri. he would name CompTel Senior Vp Robert McDowell to be FCC commissioner, a move that had been long rumored. “If confirmed, Rob McDowell will be a great asset to the Commission,” FCC Chmn. Martin said. Confirmation of McDowell finally would give the FCC a full complement of 5 commissioners and Martin a Republican majority of 3. The nomination would fill out a 5-year term ending June 30, 2009.
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
Timely, relevant coverage of court proceedings and agency rulings involving tariffs, classification, valuation, origin and antidumping and countervailing duties. Each day, Trade Law Daily subscribers receive a daily headline email, in-depth PDF edition and access to all relevant documents via our trade law source document library and website.
A date hasn’t been set for McDowell’s confirmation hearing, but it’s likely to be several weeks off since the paperwork takes time, according to a spokesman for the Senate Commerce Committee. The committee had scheduled an oversight hearing Feb. 15 on the FCC, which some speculated might be an opportunity for McDowell’s confirmation. But a video franchising hearing, cancelled because of the Supreme Court nomination vote Tues., has been moved to that time slot.
McDowell, who has strong Republican ties, worked with Martin on the 2000 Fla. vote recount that led to Bush’s election. He’s close to Ken Mehlman, Republican National Committee chmn. McDowell lost a close 2003 race for the Va. House of Delegates and an earlier Va. Senate election.
CompTel Pres. Earl Comstock, eyed in 2005 for an FCC spot, called McDowell “an excellent choice,” citing his “extensive experience working in the communications industry.” Comstock withdrew from consideration after his nanny’s employment status came into question.
Stifel Nicolaus analysts said a 5-commissioner FCC would be “good news for those hoping for media ownership liberalization, such as newspapers,” since it would mean “the process for revising those rules is now more likely to get started… Commissioner McDowell could be bad news for the Bells since he comes from the CLEC world, but “most of the key Bell-CLEC issues have already been decided.”
The Bells stuck to compliments -- BellSouth said McDowell “knows telecom issues inside and out.” AT&T agreed he has “experience and know-how” and said it’s pleased “the White House has moved to bring the Commission to full strength” so it can address broadband deployment, video competition, universal service, intercarrier compensation and other issues. Some have speculated Martin wasn’t likely to move such matters without a Republican majority. Verizon said McDowell “has the skills and experience to be an outstanding commissioner” and “it’s important for the FCC to have a full complement of five commissioners.” USTelecom said only that it “looked forward” to working with McDowell and other commissioners to update communications regulations “and achieve the Bush Administration’s goal of universal broadband by 2007.”