Senate Republicans warned the FCC not to pre-empt states’ ability to restrict municipal broadband. Eleven senators wrote the agency a letter Thursday questioning FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler’s stated desire to pre-empt state law on this count. “The insinuation” the FCC “will force taxpayer funded competition against private broadband providers -- against the wishes of the states -- is deeply troubling,” said the letter, whose lead signatory is Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb. Other signatories included Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Marco Rubio, R-Fla. They slammed Wheeler for not respecting states’ rights.

The battle over net neutrality and whether to reclassify broadband as a Title II telecom service continued to echo on Capitol Hill Wednesday, ahead of a Thursday FCC meeting considering such questions. Responses differed substantially by party lines but were united by concern over what the FCC proposal contains, whether its consideration should delayed and the legal authority used in crafting new rules.

The battle over net neutrality and whether to reclassify broadband as a Title II telecom service continued to echo on Capitol Hill Wednesday, ahead of a Thursday FCC meeting considering such questions. Responses differed substantially by party lines but were united by concern over what the FCC proposal contains, whether its consideration should delayed and the legal authority used in crafting new rules.

The Senate Commerce Committee approved Tom Wheeler to be FCC chairman, in a voice vote and as expected (CD July 30 p3) . The committee sent his nomination to the Senate floor Tuesday. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, voted to approve but warned he may oppose the nomination in the future if Wheeler fails to adequately respond to his questions about regulating political speech. It was unclear Tuesday when Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., plans to schedule a final vote on Wheeler’s nomination, and Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., clarified that Republicans “absolutely” intend to pair Wheeler’s nomination with the still-pending Republican FCC nominee.

Joining Senate Communications Subcommittee are: Democrats Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut; Brian Schatz of Hawaii; and Mo Cowan of Massachusetts; and Republicans Dan Coats of Indiana; Tim Scott of South Carolina; Ted Cruz of Texas; Deb Fischer of Nebraska; and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin … Internet Society President and CEO Lynn St. Amour to leave next February when her contract ends … Lemko Corp. mobile wireless company hires Norman Fekrat, ex-IBM, as chief strategy & revenue officer …

Joining Senate Communications Subcommittee are: Democrats Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut; Brian Schatz of Hawaii; and Mo Cowan of Massachusetts; and Republicans Dan Coats of Indiana; Tim Scott of South Carolina; Ted Cruz of Texas; Deb Fischer of Nebraska; and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin … Lemko Corp. mobile wireless company hires Norman Fekrat, ex-IBM, as chief strategy & revenue officer … Internet Society President and CEO Lynn St. Amour to leave next February when her contract ends … Glen Echo Group hires: Shermineh Rohanizadeh, ex-Voice of America, as director-media relations; and Ellen Backus, ex-FitzGerald Communications, as senior media counsel … OneSpot online ad company hires Steve Sachs, ex-Time Warner’s Time Inc., as CEO.

The Senate Commerce Committee will have one less Republican member in the 113th Congress, committee aides confirmed Thursday. The committee will now have a 13-11 split between Democrats and Republicans as the panel prepares to address telecom reform in the 113th Congress. Telecom lobbyists said Thursday that the new member ratio was unlikely to have a significant effect on the committee’s oversight of telecom and tech issues.

The Senate Commerce Committee will have one fewer Republican member in the 113th Congress, committee aides confirmed Thursday. The committee will now have a 13-11 split between Democrats and Republicans as the panel prepares to address telecom reform in the 113th Congress. Telecom lobbyists said Thursday that the new member ratio was unlikely to have a significant effect on the committee’s oversight of telecom and tech issues.