Rockefeller suggests FCC's impasse with Grassley could end

A new document dump by the FCC could lead a Republican senator to lift his hold on two nominees, Sen. Jay Rockefeller said Tuesday.

Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) said he was hopeful a standoff over Sen. Chuck Grassley’s (R-Iowa) holds would end with the release of 13,000 unredacted emails and other documents from the FCC related to its review of wireless startup LightSquared.

Grassley’s holds on Democrat Jessica Rosenworcel and Republican Ajit Pai have been in place for months.

The Republican senator has been demanding FCC documents on LightSquared, the politically-connected firm that wanted to create a nationwide 4G wireless network.

LightSquared has invested billions of dollars in its plans, but the FCC moved to block the project in February over concerns that it would interfere with critical GPS devices.

Some Republicans have questioned whether the administration showed inappropriate favoritism to LightSquared.

Rockefeller said he hoped Grassley would be satisfied with the latest documents.

"I hope so." "Jessica [Rosenworcel]…and Ajit [Pai]…are absolutely fabulous," he said. "There's just no reason for it now."

Rockefeller, the chairman of the Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over the FCC, said he made a personal request to the FCC chief of staff for the new documents.

Senate aides have said Grassley has been under pressure from Republican senators to release his holds, though Grassley’s office says he has the full support of his colleagues.

Rockefeller compared the process of dealing with Grassley to the Michael Douglas movie “The American President,” saying, “There's going to be groveling involved.”

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