Anna Gomez is a step closer to becoming the next FCC commissioner.
Her nomination has cleared the Senate Commerce Committee, although without the support of ranking Republican Ted Cruz.
Also advancing are the renominations of Brendan Carr and Geoffrey Starks.
Gomez would fill a Democratic seat that has remained open since President Biden took office, in part because of the long and ultimately fruitless push to install Gigi Sohn in that seat.
Said Committee Chair Maria Cantwell, “Ms. Gomez is a dedicated public servant with 25 years of experience in the telecommunications industry. If confirmed, she will be the first Latina on the commission in more than 20 years. Ms. Gomez has demonstrated she has the experience and judgment to be highly effective in this role as commissioner and has earned bipartisan support for her nomination.”
Cruz declined to vote yes, citing her positions on net neutrality and “previous online posts concerning the use of government power to police so-called disinformation,” according to The Verge.
[Read more on the opposition by Sen. Cruz to Gomez and Starks.]
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association issued a statement encouraging the Senate to quickly to confirm all three nominees.
President/CEO Todd Schlekeway said, “Having a full slate of five commissioners and a continuity of the agency’s leadership is crucial given the myriad of broadband, wireless infrastructure, permitting, spectrum and workforce development issues currently confronting the industry.”
A date for Senate action on the nominations has not been set.
