Tate to be Nominated, Copps Re-nominated, to FCC
The White House announced President George W. Bush intends to nominate Deborah Tate as an FCC commissioner and to re-nominate Democratic Commissioner Michael Copps. Tate, a Republican, is director of the Tennessee Regulatory Authority. In 2003, she was appointed the FCC's Federal-State Joint Conference on Advanced Telecommunications Services, according to the White House statement.
If confirmed by the Senate, Tate 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, at least until Kathleen Abernathy leaves.
Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, is said to be seeking candidates for Abernathy's slot. Her term expired a year ago, but the law allows her to stay until a replacement is named, the current Congressional session ends or the president extends her tenure.
Copps would be re-nominated for an entire five-year term, to expire June 30, 2010.
(Radio World)
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