Senate Commerce Committee approves FCC nominees

The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee unanimously approved President Obama's two nominees to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Ajit Pai and Jessica Rosenworcel, on a voice vote on Thursday.

The nominations will now move to the full Senate for consideration, but Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) has promised to block them unless the FCC releases documents related to its review of LightSquared, which plans to launch a wholesale wireless broadband service. 

Tests earlier this year revealed LightSquared's network interferes with Global Positioning System (GPS) devices, and FCC officials have said they will not grant final approval to the company until it resolves the interference problems. But Grassley is suspicious that the agency has shown LightSquared undue favoritism.  

"I’m confident we can address any concerns about the nominees quickly so we can clear the way for full Senate confirmation,” Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) said in a news release after the vote.

The committee also approved on Thursday the president's nominees to the Federal Trade Commission, Jon Leibowitz and Maureen Ohlhausen. Leibowitz currently serves as the chairman of the commission.

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