OVERNIGHT TECH: FCC commissioner ‘extremely humbled’ by renomination

THE LEDE: Michael O’Rielly expressed gratitude Thursday after President Obama nominated him to fill a full five-year term on the Federal Communications Commission.

He said he would “respect and honor” the confirmation process in the Senate, which appears primed to get started when the chamber returns after the midterm elections.  

{mosads}”I am extremely humbled and appreciative of the action by President Obama to consider and approve my nomination to a new term as a commissioner at the Federal Communications Commission,” O’Rielly said in a statement after Obama announced his intention to renominate him on Wednesday evening.

The GOP commissioner was approved by unanimous consent in the Senate last year to finish off a partial term of former Commissioner Robert McDowell. By law, no more than three of the five-person commission can be from the same party.

The four other commissioners, including Chairman Tom Wheeler, congratulated O’Rielly on the renomination, as did industry groups including the American Cable Association.

“Mike O’Rielly and I were confirmed together for his first short term and I look forward to continuing to work with him in his new longer term,” Wheeler said in a statement. “Commissioner O’Rielly is deeply committed to the goal of improving the lives of the American people though communications technology, and his intellect and work ethic have made him a tremendous asset to the agency.”

The other GOP member of the commission, Ajit Pai, called him a “true friend” and strong advocate for “economic freedom and modernizing our regulations.”

Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel said she looked forward to her continued work with him while Commissioner Mignon Clyburn commended his insight, established by “years of Congressional service.”

O’Rielly worked as a senior staffer for Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), former Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) and a number of other Republican offices before joining the FCC.

Easy confirmation seems set for lame duck: The Senate Commerce Committee should have an opportunity to approve O’Rielly’s nomination by the end of the year, according to a GOP aide. Republicans would “certainly support” a full vote in the Senate before January, the aide said.

Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller’s (D-W.Va.) office declined to offer a timeline for the confirmation. Though his term officially ended in June, O’Rielly would be able to serve without confirmation until next December. Former Commissioner Robert McDowell told The Hill the timing of the nomination, three months before the end of the Congress, is a good sign.

“One can safely assume that the timing of the nomination means that there will be a quick confirmation process for him,” said McDowell, who is currently a partner at the Wiley Rein law firm. “A hearing before Senate Commerce and then perhaps what is called a hotline vote on the floor of the Senate perhaps in December.”

McDowell said O’Rielly’s depth and breadth have made him a “top-notch” candidate, while noting that he proved last year he could garner unanimous support. The vast majority of FCC nominations go through without controversy, McDowell noted. All current commissioners were approved with unanimous consent. “Sometimes holds have been placed on nominees that may have something to do with their policy positions or not,” he said, noting that several holds delayed his nomination by months in 2006.

Execs, advocates to appear at Texas net neutrality panel: FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai will be joined in College Station, Texas, later this month by a half-dozen state regulators, consumer advocates and executives. The Oct. 21 session will feature the chairwoman of the Texas Public Utilities Commission — Donna Nelson — as well as top officials from Texas-based Internet service providers, Texans for Economic Progress and a support center for local entrepreneurs.

“I am honored that this distinguished group of experts has agreed to participate in the forum,” Pai said in a statement. “I look forward to getting outside the Beltway and listening to Texans’ perspectives on how the FCC’s proposed rules would impact the American people.”

Deb Fischer wants “tech policy reboot”: Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) wants Washington to take a cue from entrepreneurs in the rest of country. In an op-ed in The Hill on Thursday, Fischer,  who sits on the Senate Commerce Committee, unveiled a new proposal to jumpstart the American economy and said that she had been meeting with Silicon Valley leaders this week to get feedback.  

“Ultimately, government must do a better job of listening and understanding the tech industry,” she wrote. “Right now, government is stuck in an analog mindset, while innovators have moved the rest of the country into the digital age.

Her plan calls for an update to “outdated” regulations, requirements that agencies like the FCC be more responsive to license applications, expanded access to communications services and new oversight of federal projects.

FCC asked to review AT&T spectrum buys: A group of industry and consumer advocates told the FCC on Thursday to ”rigorously apply a heightened standard of review” to AT&T’s plans to buy some spectrum licenses. T-Mobile, Sprint, Public Knowledge and Free Press, among others, warned that the wireless giant was buying up too much low-band spectrum, which could lead to unfair concentration.

“Access to low-band spectrum by multiple carriers is essential to fueling robust competition in the wireless broadband market, promoting consumer choice, and encouraging investment and innovation,” they argued.

EFF launched anti-surveillance site: The Electronic Frontier Foundation launched a new website to praise people fighting surveillance around the world. The site, IFightSurveillance.org, will be translated in 16 languages and give steps for activists to take to avoid their government’s prying eyes.

ON TAP:

The George Mason University School of Law hosts the second day of its conference on intellectual property at 8:30.

At 12:15, the New America Foundation’s Open Technology Institute is holding an event for The Responsive City, a new book from Harvard University professors Susan Crawford and Stephen Goldsmith.

Internet pioneers Vint Cerf and Bob Kahn talk with Walter Isaacson about his new book on innovators at 4 p.m.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) called on the Senate to pass National Security Agency reforms when it returns after the midterm elections.

The NSA is refusing to release a list of classified information that was deliberately leaked to the media.

Two researchers took home a $25,000 prize Thursday from a top spy agency for developing a system that helps predict how trustworthy people are by studying their partners.

Consumers would be forced to hand over $14.7 billion a year in new taxes if Congress doesn’t extend a ban on taxes for online access, according to new research from a group aligned with Republicans.

The House is taking new steps to keep hackers out of staffers’ emails.

Please send tips and comments to Julian Hattem, jhattem@digital-stage.thehill.com and Mario Trujillo, mtrujillo@digital-stage.thehill.com

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