Wheeler Confirmation Could Be Months Away

Tom Wheeler

Senate lawmakers who oversee the Federal Communications Commission plan to vote on the president’s pick to chair the agency as part of a late-summer session that also could advance new cybersecurity legislation.

According to politico.com, that markup before the Senate Commerce Committee is expected to occur as soon as Tuesday, and it’s likely to be the panel’s last order of business before Congress departs for its yearly August recess. Both Tom Wheeler, the president’s nominee to lead the FCC, and the committee’s cybersecurity bill are expected to pass easily with bipartisan support.

Of course, the committee’s vote wouldn’t install Wheeler as the new head of the telecom agency — that only comes after full Senate consideration. And it may be months before that occurs: Republicans aren’t willing to advance Wheeler unless President Barack Obama submits a candidate for the FCC’s open GOP slot, but the White House hasn’t yet put forward a Republican name.

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