Yesterday, the Senate voted 49-46 to confirm the contentious nomination of Republican Nathan Simington to the FCC, despite appeals from Democrats and advocacy groups to hold off on a vote until early next year.
The confirmation handed the Biden administration a possible deadlocked FCC since FCC Chairman Ajit Pai is stepping down from the agency on inauguration day, January 20, 2021, leaving the FCC with two Republicans and two Democrats.
If the Senate is still GOP controlled following the Georgia runoff election on January 5, Biden’s choice for Pai’s replacement could be stalled, putting the Commission at a standstill.
