President Barack Obama has sent two Federal Communications Commission nominations to the Senate — Meredith Attwell Baker, a Republican, and Mignon Clyburn, a Democrat. Both nominations were expected, and the White House had previously signaled its intent to nominate Clyburn.
The 41-year-old Baker was acting assistant secretary of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and former point person on the government’s digital-TV-to-analog converter-box-coupon subsidy program until this January.
If confirmed, Baker would be the last administration pick for the five-member FCC and fill the remainder of the term for Republican and former Chairman Kevin Martin. Her term would expire June 30, 2011. Baker had been with the NTIA since 2004, when she joined as a senior advisor.
Before joining the NTIA, Baker was vice president of Williams Mullen Strategies and, before that, director of congressional affairs at the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association. Her resume also includes working in the legislative-affairs office at the State Department. She is the daughter-in-law of former Secretary of State James Baker.
Obama has also formally nominated Mignon Clyburn, a South Carolina public service commissioner and the daughter of one of the most powerful members of Congress, House Majority Whip James Clyburn, D-S.C. No nomination hearing has been set for Clyburn.
