The White House announced President George W. Bush intends to nominate Deborah Tate as an FCC commissioner and re-nominate Michael Copps. Tate, a Republican, is director of the Tennessee Regulatory Authority. If confirmed by the Senate, she would fill the remainder of former Chairman Michael Powell’s term until June 30, 2007. That would give current Chairman Kevin Martin a 3-2 party majority on the five-member commission.
Copps, a Democrat, would be re-nominated for an entire five-year term, to expire June 30, 2010.
In 2003, Tate was appointed the FCC’s Federal-State Joint Conference on Advanced Telecommunications Services, according to the White House statement.
In a statement, Martin noted that Tate has had a distinguished career and he respects the insight and thoughtfulness on issues that Copps brings to the agency.
Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, is said to be seeking candidates for another Republican slot on the commission – that of Kathleen Abernathy, who wants to leave the agency. Her term expired a year ago, but she can stay until the end of this session of Congress or until a replacement is seated.
Tate to be Nominated to FCC
Tate to be Nominated to FCC
