Initial reaction to long-anticipated White House announcement of ...
Initial reaction to long-anticipated White House announcement of intention to nominate Jonathan Adelstein to vacant FCC commissioner seat has been positive. Senate Commerce Committee members have signaled they'll approve nomination of Adelstein, currently senior staff member to Senate Majority…
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Leader Daschle (D-S.D.), overwhelmingly in confirmation hearing, which hasn’t been scheduled. Committee staffer said Chmn. Hollings (D-S.C.) saw Adelstein as “good candidate” and tentatively had given thumbs up for his confirmation. Hearing date will be set once President Bush submits nomination and formal paperwork to committee, he said. Ranking minority member Burns (R-Mont.) “looks forward to working with him” and said Adelstein’s track record indicated that he had “a great rural vision” for communications policy, Burns spokeswoman said. Sen. Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) said Adelstein’s experience working with Daschle made candidate “well aware of the special difficulties that rural and underserved Americans have when it comes to getting communications services, particularly newer services such as high-speed Internet facilities. In particular, Jonathan knows first hand the importance of wiring schools and libraries, so that Americans everywhere can access the benefits of an increasingly digital society. We hope and expect that Jonathan will continue to keep this focus during his tenure at the FCC.” Sen. Dorgan (D-N.D.) “thinks highly” of Adelstein, aide said. Sens. Breaux (D- La.) and Kerry (D-Mass.) presumably will support him, while Sen. Allen (R-Va.) believes “President has a right to appoint who he sees fit,” respective staffers said. Sen. Edwards (R- N.C.) declined comment.