Washington was quick to weigh in after the Senate voted 68 to 31 to confirm FCC chair Jessica Rosenworcel to a new five-year term on the commission.
We congratulate chairwoman Rosenworcel on her swift confirmation by the Senate," said Michael Powell, president of NCTA-the Internet & Television Association and himself a former FCC chair. "The Commission plays an important role in expanding access to broadband, America’s opportunity infrastructure, to more U.S. citizens. We look forward to working with chairwoman Rosenworcel and her colleagues on this important mission and building on the successful policies that incent private sector investment, innovation and competition in America’s telecommunications marketplace.”
National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) president and CEO Gordon Smith:
“NAB congratulates FCC chair Jessica Rosenworcel on her [Senate] confirmation to another five-year term at the Commission and her historic appointment as chair," said association president Gordon Smith, himself a former senator. "She is a dedicated public servant who has demonstrated effective leadership and expertise on telecommunications issues during her tenure at the FCC. We look forward to continuing to work with her and her fellow commissioners on ensuring a vibrant future for free and local broadcasting.”
“Great news," said USTelecom president Jonathan Spalter. "[T]he Senate has confirmed chair Rosenworcel for another term on a strong bipartisan vote. The agency needs full time and permanent leadership from someone with expertise and a major commitment to bringing technology and connectivity to all in America. It got that today....Broadband infrastructure… a new affordability program… modernized broadband maps… stopping robocall scams… universal service reform… The FCC’s connectivity agenda in 2022 couldn’t be more packed – or more important."
“As the first permanent chairwoman of the FCC, Jessica Rosenworcel will continue her leadership on key issues like the Homework Gap, connecting all Americans to broadband, spectrum policy and public safety," said Comcast chief legal officer Tom Reid. "We look forward to working with the Commission under her leadership on these and other important communications issues.”
“Ligado congratulates Jessica Rosenworcel on her confirmation today," said Valerie Green, EVP and chief legal officer. "We at Ligado are eager to continue our work with the agency under her leadership to make the most efficient use of our nation’s mid-band spectrum resources and bring 5G services to both consumers and the critical infrastructure companies that keep America running.”
"Throughout her tenure at the FCC, chairwoman Rosenworcel has demonstrated sound leadership, a keen command of critical communications issues and a firm commitment to preserving and expanding the nation’s essential communications capabilities,” said Todd Schlekeway, president of NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association. “NATE has been pleased with chairwoman Rosenworcel’s engagement with industry leaders and her continued support of NATE’s legislative and regulatory priorities, updating broadband maps, closing the digital divide and securing the nation’s leadership in 5G deployment.”
"Chairwoman Rosenworcel’s longstanding vision, appreciation and advocacy to champion Wi-Fi and unlicensed spectrum—especially her recent support to make critical 5.9 GHz and 6 GHz spectrum available for Wi-Fi—has enabled great progress towards closing the digital divide and homework gap," said WiFi Forward. "We look forward to continuing to work with chairwoman Rosenworcel and her colleagues as they consider smart, balanced and forward-thinking spectrum policy that will drive the U.S. as a global leader in connectivity and innovation."
"Chairwoman Rosenworcel’s advocacy for midband spectrum solutions is critical to both industry-government collaboration and future commercial 5G growth for our diverse range of member organizations," said the National Spectrum Consortium. "We look forward to working with chairwoman Rosenworcel and her colleagues as they advance innovative spectrum policy."
"The Internet Innovation Alliance (IIA) congratulates Jessica Rosenworcel on her confirmation as chair of the Federal Communications Commission and applauds her commitment to an equitable, evolving broadband ecosystem," said the group. "A dedicated public servant for nearly a decade, chairwoman Rosenworcel‘s inspirational leadership and balanced decision-making merit this well-deserved honor. IIA is eager to continue working alongside chairwoman Rosenworcel in support of her goals to empower all people across America with broadband access and position the United States for global leadership in 5G, 6G and beyond."
“Jessica Rosenworcel is a proven leader who takes on big challenges with substance, vision and grace," said Chip Pickering, CEO of INCOMPAS. "A hero to parents, children and open internet advocates, Chairwoman Rosenworcel has proven to be an inclusive and thoughtful leader who leans on new ideas to move our networks into a better future. Her insistence that the E-Rate program be open to competition, transformed schools and communities around the nation."
"We congratulate Jessica Rosenworcel on her historic confirmation as chair of the Federal Communications Commission," said Information Technology Industry Council president Jason Oxman. "Her leadership could not come at a more critical time, especially as the United States makes historic investments in digital infrastructure to help close the digital divide, increase connectivity among Americans, and spur economic growth and job creation. We are looking forward to working with chair Rosenworcel and her team to advance these goals.”
"Throughout her tenure, Chairwoman Rosenworcel has shown great interest in promoting spectrum allocation policies that benefit a wide range of wireless service providers," said Louis Peraertz, VP of policy for WISPA, which represents wireless internet service providers. "She is a formidable team builder and administrator. We know her leadership of the Commission will help America move past the pandemic and thrive by ensuring competitive, affordable and accessible communications for all Americans, no matter where they live."
"OTI welcomes Chairwoman Rosenworcel’s reconfirmation to the FCC," said Sarah Morris, director of New America's Open Technology Institute. "She is a public interest champion with a long record of success at the agency and a demonstrated commitment to digital equity. OTI looks forward to continuing to work with the Chairwoman to close the homework gap, make broadband affordable for low-income households, catalyze competition on a local and national scale, improve broadband maps, pursue progressive spectrum policy focused on unlicensed and sharing, and reinstate strong net neutrality protections that are grounded in Title II authority to ensure that the Commission has the tools it needs to protect consumers and promote competition.”
"Today marks an important landmark in the history of the FCC,” said America's Public Television Stations President Patrick Butler, “as Commissioner Rosenworcel’s Senate confirmation, following her designation by President Biden to serve as chair, means this remarkable public servant has become the first woman to permanently chair the FCC.
“The chairwoman brings rich experience, expertise and leadership skills to the work of setting the nation’s telecommunications policies, and America’s Public Television Stations look forward to working with the Chairwoman and the Commission to advance public television’s missions of education, public safety and civic leadership."
"The Satellite Safety Alliance congratulates Jessica Rosenworcel on her historic confirmation to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)," the group said. "The Senate’s swift and bipartisan action ensures that the FCC has the leadership it needs to address the many pressing challenges ahead of it, including providing a stable satellite environment free from harmful interference at this critical moment."
“I commend today’s vote by the U.S. Senate to confirm Acting Chair of the Federal Communications Commission Jessica Rosenworcel as the first permanent female Chair of the Commission," said Sheryle Osiene-Riggs, president of the Utilities Technology Council. "Ms. Rosenworcel’s depth of legal and technical knowledge will make her the smart and experienced leader needed to tackle the many pressing issues before the Commission. “
“UTC is looking forward to working together with Chair Rosenworcel and collaborate with her to bring fast, affordable, and reliable broadband access to all Americans.”
“It is a profound pleasure to congratulate FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel on her Senate confirmation," said Parents Television and Media Council President Tim Winter. "This is an historic moment not only for her confirmation as the first female FCC chair, but also as the first ‘mom’ to hold this important regulatory leadership role. Over the many years I’ve known and worked with Jessica, she has proven herself to be a stalwart advocate for America’s children, and also for policies that help parents to be better parents. We look forward to working together with her to advance positive solutions that serve the critical needs of parents and families."
“It was a long and winding road for Jessica Rosenworcel, but she stayed the course and good sense has now finally prevailed with today’s Senate vote," said Common Cause special advisor Michael Copps, himself a former acting FCC chairman and Rosenworcel's former boss when she was on his FCC staff. "Jessica faces a daunting agenda as chair but she has the experience and dedication to make historic progress leading the FCC. Past commission mistakes must be corrected and new trails blazed to provide our country with the communications ecosystem our democracy so clearly must have."
Copps also put in a plug for confirming a third Democrat to the commission so Rosenworcel has a majority. "Needed now is a fifth commissioner, so that a full FCC can get on with its important mandate of protecting the public interest.”
That fifth commissioner seat may be empty for a while yet. The nominee is Gigi Sohn, whose vote may be held up by at least one Republican who has pledged to put a hold on it. ■
