FCC Stuck in ‘Holding Pattern’ Waiting for Biden to Name Chair

The Biden administration’s historic delay in appointing someone to lead the Federal Communications Commission is costing Democrats the ability to proceed on big-ticket policy items, even potential bipartisan ones, former officials said.

The commission has been operating without a permanent chair for the longest period in its history. Acting chair Jessica Rosenworcel can only stay on the commission until the end of the current congressional session.

If she departs without the Senate having taken any further action, the FCC would have a Republican majority with two commissioners, Brendan Carr and Nathan Simington, while there would be only one Democratic commissioner, ...