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123webguru News Desk
Verizon presses Bush to name new FCC commissioners
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Verizon Communications (VZ.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , the largest U.S. telephone company, on Monday pressed the Bush administration to quickly fill slots at the U.S. Federal Communications Commission which regulates the industry.
Verizon has a big stake in President Bush filling two Republican positions at the five member agency since the telephone company needs the FCC to bless its plan to acquire long-distance and data company MCI Inc. (MCIP.O: Quote, Profile, Research)
At present, the commission is evenly split with two Republicans and two Democrats after FCC Chairman Michael Powell stepped down in March. Additionally, FCC Commissioner Kathleen Abernathy, also a Republican, plans to leave the agency soon.
So new FCC Chairman Kevin Martin must get at least one of the two Democrats on the panel to vote with him to ensure decisions he wants get approved.
"We need a fully functioning FCC," said Tom Tauke, Verizon's executive vice president for public affairs, at Supercomm, a telecommunications trade show. "It's hard to make bold policy when you have one vacancy and two lame ducks."
Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens has recommended his aide Christine Kurth fill one slot and several names have been floated for the other position, including a former Texas state official, Rebecca Klein, and House Commerce Committee aide, Howard Waltzman, among others.
Democrat FCC Commissioner Michael Copps' term expires this month but he can serve until replaced or through late 2006. He has received support from Stevens and the top Senate Commerce Committee Democrat Sen. Daniel Inouye to be renominated.
"Whenever there is a vacancy, we obviously work to fill it in a timely matter," said White House spokeswoman Erin Healy. "We don't speculate on the timing of personnel announcements."
In addition to several large telecommunications deals the FCC must decide whether to approve, the agency must also chart the regulatory course for new technologies such as Internet telephone and video services.
"Though Martin has a remarkably good relationship with Copps and (Democrat FCC Commissioner Jonathan) Adelstein and they are able to move on a number of topics, there are a lot of other pending matters such as mergers and media ownership where there is likely to be disagreement," said Blair Levin, a former FCC chief of staff during the Clinton administration.
"With a 2-2 split, it's difficult for a chairman to move an agenda," he said.
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