Anna Gomez Hearings Complete; Timeline for Vote Uncertain

The US Senate’s Commerce Committee recently held a hearing on Anna Gomez, President Biden’s nominee for the vacant fifth FCC Commissioner seat.  The same hearing addressed the renominations of sitting FCC Commissioners Geoffrey Starks and Brendan Carr for renewed five-year terms.  Questions were asked about the FCC’s recently terminated broadcast license assignment proceeding involving Standard General’s proposed acquisition of TEGNA.

Gomez is an attorney and previously served as legal advisor to FCC Chairman Bill Kennard and most recently served a stint on the NTIA addressing international spectrum use.  Her positions on broadcast matters are largely unknown.  Though there has been some suggestion that the Gomez nomination could be approved as early as July, the timeline remains unclear.