Two top Senate Commerce Committee Republicans -- Communications Subcommittee ranking member John Thune of South Dakota and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin -- said over the weekend they’re running for reelection this year. “I’ve always promised that I would do the work, even when it was hard, uncomfortable or unpopular,” Thune, who’s also Senate minority whip, tweeted Saturday. “That work continues.” Johnson said in an advertisement released Monday he’s choosing to go back on his pledge to serve only two terms because “now with Democrats in total control, our nation is on a very dangerous path.” Seven other Commerce Committee members are also seeking reelection: Consumer Protection Subcommittee Chairman Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.; Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill.; Mike Lee, R-Utah; Jerry Moran, R-Kan.; Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii; Raphael Warnock, D-Ga.; and Todd Young, R-Ind. One panel Republican, Roy Blunt of Missouri, is retiring.
Democratic former FCC Commissioner Gloria Tristani backed current Democratic commission nominee Gigi Sohn. “I have no doubt that [Sohn] will be an ally to those focused on equity, justice and economic fairness,” Tristani said in an opinion piece in The Hill. “She has a strong track record of promoting policies that make internet access more affordable for the poor, people of color and people living on tribal lands.” To “eliminate ongoing racial, ethnic, geographic and income-based disparities in internet access, we need a fully functional FCC,” she said. The Senate Commerce Committee is eyeing including a vote on Sohn on the agenda for a likely Jan. 26 executive session (see 2201070058).
TikTok should follow its terms of service and remove content “showing and encouraging dangerous acts,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., wrote CEO Shou Zi Chew. Blumenthal sent the letter Monday, after a 12-year-old in Connecticut reportedly suffered serious injury while attempting a “whoosh bottle experiment” he saw on TikTok. The experiment involves pouring alcohol into a bottle and setting it on fire to hear a “whoosh.” TikTok has failed to remove the videos despite obligations in company policy, said Blumenthal. TikTok didn’t comment.
The Senate Commerce Committee is “shooting for” its next executive session to happen Jan. 26, a panel aide told us Friday. A “hiccup with scheduling” prevented the committee from holding the meeting next week as Chair Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., previously hoped (see 201050056), the aide said. FCC nominee Gigi Sohn and FTC nominee Alvaro Bedoya are still likely to be included on the agenda, lobbyists told us. Bedoya and Sohn “have the political savvy and depth of legal and technical knowledge to take on the many challenges before them at both agencies,” said Free Press co-CEO Craig Aaron. “Further delay is unacceptable. We’re deeply disappointed to have no notice of a committee vote before the Senate goes home for its mid-month recess.” Commerce ranking member Roger Wicker, R-Miss., “and a few of his” GOP colleagues “have succeeded with cynical delay tactics, but the committee must call the votes before the end of this month to let these stellar public servants fill their roles,” Aaron said.
The Senate Judiciary Committee postponed its vote on Katherine Vidal, President Joe Biden’s pick to lead the Patent and Trademark Office, and all other nominees until Jan. 13 (see 2201050046). The committee didn’t comment.
The Senate plans a Monday vote on invoking cloture on voting on NTIA administrator nominee Alan Davidson, as expected (see 2201050056). The vote will begin at 5:30 p.m. Monday. Cloture being invoked would set up a final vote on Davidson as soon as Tuesday.
Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., announced his support for Katherine Vidal, President Joe Biden’s pick to lead the Patent and Trademark Office (see 2112160059). Vidal is scheduled for a Senate Judiciary Committee vote Thursday. Tillis cited his support for former Director Andrei Iancu and his efforts to "make the Patent Trial and Appeal Board a more fair and equitable forum for patent owners.” Vidal signaled she will continue working to “reform” the PTAB, said Tillis Wednesday.
Google should abandon efforts to “bully” DOJ Antitrust Chief Jonathan Kanter into recusing himself from antitrust matters with the company, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., wrote CEO Sundar Pichai Wednesday. The lawmakers cited a letter from Google arguing that Kanter's “extensive experience opposing Google in past antitrust matters should, paradoxically, disqualify him from representing the federal government on such matters.” None of the U.S. ethics standards would require Kanter to recuse himself, the lawmakers wrote: “Google should focus on complying with antitrust law rather than attempting to rig the system with these unseemly tactics.” A Google spokesperson cited a previous statement, arguing Kanter’s “past statements and work representing competitors who have advocated for the cases brought by the Department raise serious concerns about his ability to be impartial.” DOJ didn’t comment.
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said Monday he won’t post videos on YouTube unless he’s criticizing the platform or drawing attention to "censorship." “Today I begin my exodus from Big Tech, starting with the worst censor of all, YouTube,” he said in a statement. Private companies have a right to ban users, but those who believe in open discourse should “shun the close-minded censors and take our ideas elsewhere,” he said. He cited YouTube censorship of videos about COVID-19 and masks. His content can be seen on Rumble.com, he said. Google didn’t comment.
The FAA believes more work is needed to find a good solution to its dispute with the FCC over the impact on aviation safety from 5G C-band wireless broadband signals “so that 5G and aviation can safely coexist,” a spokesperson emailed Thursday in response to a recent letter from Senate Appropriations Transportation Subcommittee ranking member Susan Collins, R-Maine. “While I understand the effort to deploy 5G services quickly, I do not believe the safety of our aviation system and the public should be potentially compromised,” Collins said in a Dec. 23 letter to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg that circulated the next week. The FCC and FAA should reach a "safe resolution" to the dispute and "postpone" the C-band rollout, set to begin Wednesday, until an agreement happens, it said. The dispute is likely to be a major factor in the FCC’s 2022 spectrum agenda (see 2112290025). Wireless and aviation groups have been pressing their case to the FCC (see 2112220038) and lawmakers amid increased interest in the issue. The FCC didn't comment.