Senate Confirms FCC Chair Rosenworcel

Jessica Rosenworcel

On December 7, the Senate voted 68-31 to confirm Federal Communications Commission Chair Jessica Rosenworcel, the first woman to hold that title, to another five-year term, narrowly avoiding a Republican majority at the agency once her current term was set to expire at the end of the year.

Rosenworcel gained the support of key Republicans, including Senate Commerce Committee ranking member Roger Wicker, R-Miss. This followed some concerns by Democrats that if Rosenworcel’s confirmation was delayed, there would have a 2-1 Republican-majority FCC. Rosenworcel’s confirmation keeps the FCC at a 2-2 stalemate.

At this point, party leadership doesn’t know if the Senate will hold a vote on President Biden’s other pick, Gigi Sohn, to fill a second vacant seat at the Commission.