Democrat FCC nominee Gigi Sohn appeared before the Senate Commerce Committee for a third time while the FTC’s Republican commissioner, Christine Wilson, announced her resignation.
02/17/2023 2:45 P.M.
2 minute read
Two regulatory bodies with oversight on accounts receivable management (ARM) industry issues continue to be without full leadership in the 118th Congress.
Rules on noncompete clauses, text message blocking and call authentication related to the ARM industry are progressing at the two agencies.
However, without a full slate of voting members, it’s unlikely action will advance on significant items at both commissions.
The FTC will temporarily be down to three Democrat commissioners following the resignation announcement of Commissioner Christine Wilson, citing disagreement with FTC Chair Lina Khan’s approach to rules and due process, according to CNBC.
Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter was recently renominated to the FTC, according to a news release.
With Wilson’s pending resignation, President Joe Biden can nominate two commissioners as long as they are not Democrats, according to the CNBC report. Only three commissioners on regulatory bodies can be from the same party at one time.
“While we often disagreed with Commissioner Wilson, we respect her devotion to her beliefs and are grateful for her public service. We wish her well in her next endeavor,” Khan, Slaughter and Commissioner Alvaro Bedoya said in a news release.
FCC Nomination Hearing
At the Federal Communications Commission, Biden nominee Gigi Sohn appeared before the Senate Commerce Committee for a third confirmation hearing on Feb. 14.
Sohn received a 14-14 vote from the committee in March 2022, meaning the nomination failed to get to the full Senate floor for consideration, Roll Call reports.
Now, if all Republicans on the Senate Commerce Committee were to oppose Sohn’s nomination, she would need almost universal support from Democrats or independents, according to the article.
U.S. Sen. Krysten Sinema of Arizona left the Democratic party for the independent party, U.S. Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., is a new member on the committee and it has three newly elected Republican members, Roll Call reports.
If Sohn is confirmed by the U.S. Senate, the FCC will have a 3-2 Democratic majority. Geoffrey Starks serves in the remaining Democrat seat on the commission.
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