The Senate has decided to delay a confirmation hearing for Julius Genachowski, President Obama's choice to chair the FCC, until after Memorial Day. It was reported yesterday the hearing would take place May 12.
Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.V.), the chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, announced last night the hearing would be postponed. "It has been agreed to on a bipartisan basis to postpone the hearing until just after the Memorial Day recess," said Commerce Committee spokeswoman Jamie Smith.
Obama nominated Genachowski in early March, although it had been speculated he would be the choice for the post since mid-January. Republicans have delayed Genachowski's nomination on the grounds that he needs to be paired with a Republican nominee for an open seat on the commission, which has angered Democrats. The Republicans have yet to decide on who they will nominate to pair with Genachowski. Some of the options reportedly being considered by the Republicans include Ajit Pai, a former congressional staffer and deputy general counsel at the FCC, and Lee Carosi Dunn, a long-time staffer to Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz).
Currently, there are only three seats filled on the five-member commission. Among the host of issues before the FCC is the digital TV transition, which is scheduled for June 12, and a plan to put in place a national broadband policy.
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