US: Senate committee offers clues on FCC, FTC noms

Republican nominee for the Federal Communications Commission Michael O’Rielly testified before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation that he prefers an “extremely light” hand in regulatory issues, preferring to reinforce existing law, introducing his views to the Senate ahead of officiating his position to the FCC.

O’Rielly’s remarks reportedly drew criticism from Democratic senators.

If the Senate confirms O’Rielly’s position, he would be the second Republican member on the five-member panel at the communications regulator.

The Senate also heard testimony from nominee Terrell McSweeny, currently from the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division, for her place at the Federal Trade Commission.

According to reports, McSweeny faired a relatively easy review in the Senate, though Senator Roy Blunt (R-Missouri) noted that the lack of Senators present at the hearing suggested confidence in the qualifications of both nominees.

Full Content: Reuters and The Blog of Legal Times

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