OPASTCO sent letter to Sen. Lott (R-Miss.) Mon. urging support fo...
OPASTCO sent letter to Sen. Lott (R-Miss.) Mon. urging support for nomination of Jonathan Adelstein to FCC. OPASTCO said letter was sent to keep focus on FCC vacancy as working legislative days in Senate dwindled. “We're trying to step…
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up our efforts,” OPASTCO Legislative Dir. Donald Erickson said of association’s push. Letter signed by OPASTCO Pres. John Rose alluded to concerns that Adelstein had been drawn into judicial nominations conflict in Senate. “We sincerely respect your right as a United States Senator and as Senate Minority Leader to influence the Senate’s agenda and its consideration of judicial and other nominations,” letter said. “Rightly or wrongly, such disagreement over nominations can have the consequence of causing stalemate over unrelated nominations and legislation.” Erickson said he was worried that Adelstein, aide to Senate Majority Leader Daschle (D-S.D.), was drawn into judicial nomination debate after Senate defeated appointment of Charles Pickering, of Lott’s home state Miss., to federal appeals court. “They should delink the 2,” Erickson said. “Let’s not have that derail a telecom issue.” After Pickering defeat, Lott said he would support nomination of Andrew Levin, Rep. Dingell (D- Mich.) staffer, to vacant Democratic FCC seat (CD April 10 p3). Letter emphasized broad support for Adelstein, including by wireless carriers, long-distance carriers, CLECs, broadcasters. It also referred to Rep. Thune (R-S.D.) support for Adelstein, whose rural background is seen as giving him unique experience for FCC position. With Commission considering several rural issues, full representation of small communities is important, Erickson said. Other senators, mostly Democrats, have concerns about slowness of FCC appointment, Erickson said. Lott’s office didn’t return phone calls for comment.