Telephony Lawyer Could be Nominated to FCC

President George W. Bush is expected next month to nominate telecom attorney Robert McDowell to fill the empty Republican seat on the FCC, Reuters reports. McDowell is senior vice president and assistant general counsel with CompTel, which represents many Bell competitors, including Internet phone providers.
With the recent installment of Republican Deborah Tate on the commission, the agency is back up to a 2-2 complement, but has been one short of a full slate of five commissioners nearly a year.
Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, told reporters after the broadcast flag hearing that McDowell was on his suggested list of FCC candidates that he passed onto the White House, the service reported.
McDowell would need both committee and full Senate confirmation if nominated.