Abernathy leaving FCC
Republican Kathleen Abernathy said Thursday she will leave the Federal Communications Commission early next month, which could leave the five-member commission with two open seats and give Democrats a temporary 2-1 majority. Abernathy has served for four years. Her term actually expired last year but under federal rules she could stay on until next month. She plans to leave the job Dec. 9.
The FCC already has one vacancy, leaving a 2-2 split between Republicans and Democrats. Abernathy’s departure could leave the FCC in an unusual position of having a Republican chairman and two Democratic commissioners if the Senate doesn’t act quickly on the nomination of Republican Deborah Tate.
President Bush last week announced his intention to nominate Tate, a Tennessee regulator, and renominate Democrat Michael Copps to serve on the commission. Copps, whose term expired this summer, can serve until the end of next year.
Source: Seattle PI
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