Senate confirms FCC’s Rosenworcel to another term

The Senate voted 68-31 Tuesday to confirm Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chair Jessica Rosenworcel to another term.

The confirmation came weeks before Rosenworcel’s term was set to expire, which would have given Republicans a majority on the commission.

Even with Rosenworcel getting the nod from the Senate, the commission remains deadlocked.

President Biden has nominated Gigi Sohn to the last seat on the five-person panel. The former FCC official has faced tough opposition from Republican lawmakers.

Rosenworcel had served as acting chair since the start of Biden’s term.

“It’s the honor of my lifetime to lead the FCC and serve as the first permanent female Chair,” she wrote in a tweet Tuesday. “Thank you to the President and Senate for entrusting me with this responsibility.”

In her role as acting chair, Rosenworcel has championed efforts to tackle robocalls as well as close the “homework gap” — the divide between students with access to reliable internet and those who don’t.

Securing a 3-2 majority with Sohn’s confirmation would let Democrats at the agency move to restore net neutrality rules, a key issue for progressives and digital rights advocates.