White House Moves Adelstein Nomination
The White House announced its intention to renominate FCC Comr. Adelstein, and a spokeswoman for Senate Majority Leader Frist (R-Tenn.) told us that unresolved nominations could move individually this week as opposed to being included as a package. Individual consideration could help Adelstein’s chances by separating him from controversial nominees. Already, objections to some judicial nominees are brewing in the Senate Judiciary Committee. However, several sources told us Adelstein’s nomination appears safe at this point.
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Congress also appears close to moving spectrum trust fund and E-911 legislation. An aide to Senate Appropriations Committee Chmn. Stevens (R-Alaska) told us an agreement was reached Mon. on the bills, which were to be “hotlined” in the Senate on Mon. evening. Once a bill is hotlined, if no members object, it’s announced on the Senate floor and considered passed. Sources said Stevens didn’t get the national alert system he had requested in the spectrum trust fund legislation. However, sources said he did receive a commitment from CTIA and other industry representatives to hold further discussions on an alert system. Sources also said House officials have signed off on the package.
A White House spokesman told us paperwork on Adelstein’s nomination should reach the Senate by today (Wed.). Adelstein is scheduled for a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on Thurs., 2 p.m., Rm 253 Russell Bldg. Frist’s spokeswoman told us that if he’s approved by the committee -- which sources said seems very likely -- Adelman could be scheduled for a Senate vote sometime after the hearing. Frist’s spokeswoman said all pending nominations could be considered under unanimous consent rules, which means it would take the objection of just one senator to scuttle the nomination. Senators may vote on packages of nominees, Frist’s spokeswoman said, but they would likely be packages of nominees that won committee approval that day, instead of a bundle of all pending nominees. Congressional and industry sources have said Adelstein would be part of a group of nominees, including dozens of judges, that the Senate would try to move during this week’s “lame-duck” congressional session.
The White House’s action, announced Mon. evening, puts Adelstein a step closer to winning his first full term on the Commission. Adelstein has been on the FCC nearly 2 years. He entered the Commission to finish the term of former Comr. Gloria Tristani, which expired June 2003. Adelstein’s first nomination was stalled for nearly a year as the White House and Senate Minority Leader Daschle (D-S.D.) fought over judicial nomination. Adelstein’s renomination also suffered delays as the political war on judicial nominees continued this year.
In other congressional news, FCC Inspector Gen. Walker Feaster told us it’s unlikely congressional appropriators will grant the his office the ability to use universal service funds to audit the E-rate program. Feaster said he lobbied for appropriations language that would grant access to the funds, but it’s unlikely to be included in appropriations language being considered on the Hill. Congressional inaction doesn’t appear to jeopardize an audit of E-rate. Feaster said the IG’s office would soon send out about 700 proposals for independent audits of E-rate programs. Absent direct access to the funds, Universal Service Administrative Co. would have to approve the spending. Sources said about $33 million is needed to conduct the audit.
Also, the Congressional Rural Caucus (CRC) Telecom Task Force plans to hold a hearing today (Wed.) on rural telecom issues that will include the FCC, NARUC, USDA RUS and other govt. telecom officials. The hearing will be led by telecom task force chmn. Rep. Gutknecht (R-Minn.) and Rep. Stupak (D-Mich.). Also scheduled to attend: CRC co-Chmn. Peterson (R-Pa.) and Boyd (D-Fla.) and Vice Chmn. Osborne (R-Neb.) and Davis (D-Tenn.). The CRC has 145 bipartisan members. The hearing, which will include a panel of rural telecom providers, is scheduled for 2 p.m. in Rm. 1302 Longworth Bldg.