Tate, Copps Nominated To FCC

korsjs

Welcome To SatelliteGuys
Original poster
Supporting Founder
Jan 25, 2004
7,583
0
Land O Lakes, FL
The White House Wednesday nominated Democratic FCC Commissioner Michael Copps to a second term and Tennessee regulatory utility commissioner Deborah Tate to the vacant Republican seat of former Chairman Michael Powell.

Not getting the nod is Richard Russell, senior director for Technology and Telecommunications at the National Economic Council. He had been advising the administration on potential FCC nominees and threw his hat in the ring.




FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said of the news: “If confirmed, Debi Tate will be an excellent addition to the Commission. She has a distinguished career in state government, and she has worked closely with the Commission in her role as Director of the Tennessee Regulatory Authority.


"Also, if confirmed, I look forward to continuing to work closely with Commissioner Copps. He has served admirably at the Commission for the past four years, and I respect his insight and thoughtfulness on issues before the Commission.

"I welcome both Debi and Michael, and I appreciate their continued dedication to public service.”


Copps responded: "I am deeply honored that the President has announced his intention to nominate me to serve another term as Commissioner of the Federal Communication Commission. If confirmed by the Senate, it would be a privilege to continue serving the American people.
I look forward to working with Congress, the Administration, the Chairman of the FCC and my fellow Commissioners to help bring the best, most accessible, and cost-effective communications system in the world to all of our people."

Tate is described as a "solid, reliable Republican" by one well-placed observer. She has been a member of the Tennessee Regulatory Authority and had been on several short lists for the FCC.

Tate, who was appointed to a six-year term as a director--and one year as chairman--of the Tennessee Regulatory Authority (TRA) in February 2002, is no stranger to the FCC. In December 2003, Powell named her to the FCC's Federal-State Joint Conference on Advanced Telecommunications Services.

She also has been active on the voice over internet protocol front (VOIP), weighing in at the FCC in her capacity as chairman of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) Washington Action Committee.

Tate's resume includes legal counsel former Tennessee Governor Lamar Alexander and assistant to former governor Don Sundquist, who appointed her to the TRA.

She might also have some insight into the video news release flap since one of her past government roles is described in her TRA bio as "oversight of multiple public relations contracts, television, radio and print advertising to assist in the development of numerous public-private partnerships to maximize public dollars, including the first Governor’s Summit for Tennessee’s Children and “BEST”- a behavioral violence prevention program for young pre-school children."

The two open Republican seats are that of Chairman Michael Powell, who exited in March and was replaced by sitting commissioner Kevin Martin, and Kathleen Abernathy, who is ready to leave whenever the nominee can be confirmed.

Russell had been targeted for that seat, but was reportedly not a favorite of commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), who is said still to be looking for another candidate for the Abernathy seat.

Abernathy's term expired in June 2004, but she is allowed to stay on until either the end of 2005 or a successor was installed.


The FCC is currently composed of two Republicans and two Democrats. Tate would give Martin the potential tie-breaking vote

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6282805.html?display=Breaking+News
 
Bush FCC nominees have industry approval
By Carol Wilson

Nov 10, 2005 8:48 AM


Increase Flexibility and Profitability with These Infrastructure Solutions
Optimize your wireless network with Modular Building Blocks, Advanced TCA, and IMS architecture. Learn More.
Read White Papers Now.
Sponsored by Intel.




President Bush’s choices of Deborah Tate and Michael Copps for the Federal Communications Commission seem to have struck a proper balance. Groups on both sides of most competitive issues are praising the selections.

Tate, a director on the Tennessee Regulatory Authority, was named to the Republican slot, while Copps will continue on the Democratic side. Tate will take the slot originally occupied by Kevin Martin, before he was promoted to chairman, resulting in a 3-2 advantage in advancing the Republican agenda, which has tended to tilt in favor of the larger incumbent carriers.

“This is a critical time for the telecom industry with technologies and the marketplace rapidly evolving, and we applaud President Bush for nominating Deborah Tate, a strong, experienced candidate, to the FCC,” said Walter B. McCormick, president and CEO of USTelecom, in a prepared statement. “With the President’s goal of achieving universal broadband deployment by 2007, Congress preparing to update the nation’s communications laws and technology forging ahead, the FCC is at the center of today’s communications debate. We urge the Senate to quickly confirm Deborah Tate to help Chairman Martin move the President’s agenda forward.”

Earl Comstock, president and CEO of Comptel, which represents competitive carriers, called Tate “a very thoughtful and effective public servant during her years at the Tennessee Regulatory Authority.”

Copps is known as a staunch consumer advocate and, with fellow Democrat Jonathan Adelstein, has negotiated some concessions from Martin, including conditions imposed on the recent mergers of SBC-AT&T and Verizon-MCI.

BellSouth also stressed the significance of speed in approving the appointments.

“At this critical time, when fast-changing technology provides ever increasing consumer benefits, it is important to have the FCC at full strength to be certain that regulation does not impair delivery of these benefits to consumers,” said Herschel Abbott, BellSouth vice president of governmental affairs. “Quick Senate approval of these nominees will provide Chairman Martin with a team of hard-working individuals who understand the importance of the job they've been asked to undertake.”

The full slate will be a temporary phenomenon. Bush will have to nominate a third FCC member when Kathleen Abernathy is required to step down when this session of Congress ends in December.

Tate’s term would run through 2007 and Copps’ through 2010.

http://telephonyonline.com/broadband/news/FCC_Bush_nominees/
 

Games

IS in this the right place??

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Total: 0, Members: 0, Guests: 0)

Who Read This Thread (Total Members: 1)