Senate adds hurdle to Biden plans, OKs Trump FCC pick
conservative viewpoints, and Trump portrayed his executive order as a remedy for bias.
Democratic lawmakers, and Biden, also have supported limiting the liability protections of online platforms. But they believe it’s solely up to Congress, not the FCC, to make changes.
Consumer advocate organizations have opposed Simington’s confirmation, saying his joining the FCC brings deadlock that will block actions to foster the online access critically needed by consumers, workers and students during the coronavirus pandemic.
Speaking against Simington’s confirmation, Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut said some 16 million students nationwide are effectively locked out of classrooms because they lack access to the internet.
He called Simington “unprepared and unqualified” for the FCC position.
But FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, a Trump appointee, noted that Simington was raised in a rural community and said in a statement his confirmation “ensures that this important perspective will continue to be represented on the commission for years to come as the FCC continues its work on bridging the digital divide.”
Pai is stepping down Jan. 20 when Biden is inaugurated.
Wi t h Simington confirmed to the five-member FCC, there will then be a 2-2 split between Democratic and Republican commissioners. That likely will stymie Biden’s agenda until he’s able to get a fifth, Democratic FCC member confirmed, with an extended delay possible if the Republicans continue to control the Senate after the two Georgia Senate runoff elections Jan. 5.
Democrats want the FCC to restore Obama-era net neutrality rules, revoked under Pai’s tenure, which barred internet service providers like Comcast and AT&T from favoring some types of online traffic over others. An FCC under Democratic control also likely would focus on narrowing the digital divide, by getting internet services to people who don’t have access because the services aren’t available or they can’t afford them.
Under the current FCC regimen, schools can use federal pandemic relief funds to buy Wi-Fi hot spots and computers for students to use at home, but they aren’t allowed to dip into an FCC pot of money.
Before joining the government, Simington was an executive at Brightstar Corp., a wireless distribution company based in Miami. He also has worked in private law practice.
When he nominated Simington in September, Trump cited his experience with broadband and security for 5G, the next-generation wireless standard that promises faster speeds.
During Pai’s tenure, the FCC worked to free up spectrum for cellphone companies to enable them to roll out 5G. It also cracked down on Chinese telecom companies deemed as threats to U.S. national security.