Obama renominates GOP FCC commissioner

President Obama on Wednesday night renominated Michael O’Rielly for a full term on the Federal Communications Commission. 

The Republican commissioner was unanimously confirmed by the Senate last year, on the same day FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler was also approved. 

{mosads}O’Rielly, a former GOP Senate staffer, was approved to finish out the term of Robert McDowell, who left a little less than a year before his term expired. Commissioners are sworn in for five-year terms, unless they are replacing a member who departed early. 

The commission is made up of three Democrats and two Republicans. Set up by law, only three of the five commissioners can be from the same party. 

O’Rielly’s nomination could be taken up in the lame-duck session, otherwise the president would have to resubmit the nomination in the next Congress. The Senate approved all five current commissioners with unanimous consent. 

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. 

Ajit Pai, the other Republican on the FCC, said he was “delighted” Obama nominated O’Rielly for another term.

“During his time at the Commission, he has been a strong advocate for economic freedom and modernizing our regulations to keep pace with today’s marketplace,” Pai said in a statement.

—This report was updated at 10:57 a.m.