President Barack Obama has nominated Republican Federal Communications Commission member Michael O'Rielly to a full, five-year term on the commission.
Given that he has already been vetted and voted by the Senate, that nomination will almost certainly be confirmed.
O'Rielly has been filling the unexpired term of former commissioner Robert McDowell, which ended June 30, though commissioners are allowed to continue serving for what can be an extended period before being officially confirmed to a new term.
O’Rielly has been a commissioner since November 2013. Before that he was policy advisor in the Office of the Senate Republican Whip.
O'Rielly had no immediate comment, but his fellow Republican commissioner Ajit Pai was "delighted."
"During his time at the Commission, he has been a strong advocate for economic freedom and modernizing our regulations to keep pace with today’s marketplace. Mike has also been a trusted friend and colleague," Pai said. "I look forward to continuing to work with him in the months and years to come."
The two have teamed up to criticize FCC processes and some of the actions taken by the Democratic majority to tighten FCC rules on TV-station sharing arrangements.
