It is possible, though unlikely, that the FCC could be at full strength by that time if the Senate votes to discharge and then vote on the nomination of Gigi Sohn for the fifth FCC seat, though a hold threat continues from Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.).

“These days access to the internet means access to economic and educational opportunities," said Committee Chairman Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) and Communications Subcommittee Chairman Mike Doyle (D-Pa.). "The FCC plays a key role in ensuring that Congress’ historic broadband investments included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law reach the people and communities that will most benefit from all the opportunities that come with quality internet access,” they said.

The vast majority of that infrastructure money is being overseen by the National Telecommunications & Information Administration, but getting it to the most needy will depend on the broadband availability maps the FCC is working to update and improve.

“We look forward to hearing from the Chairwoman and Commissioners about the FCC’s ongoing work to connect all Americans regardless of income or zip code, promoting secure and resilient networks, and paving the way for our wireless future," the legislators said.

Most of that is the sort of bipartisan work a politically tied 2-2 commission can get done. But other issues like network neutrality and media ownership will require a Democratic majority to achieve some of the Biden Administration's stated goals. ■

That is when the Senate Commerce Committee has scheduled an FCC oversight hearing featuring all five commissioners, according to the committee. It will be the first such oversight hearing since the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Look for issues like Sec. 230, broadband mapping, the C-band spectrum auction, and the Ligado decision, among others, to be on the docket. 

Many of those were on the agenda at this week's Senate Commerce Committee nomination hearing for Republican FCC commissioner Michael O'Rielly.

That is when the Senate Commerce Committee has scheduled an FCC oversight hearing featuring all five commissioners, according to the committee. It will be the first such oversight hearing since the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Look for issues like Sec. 230, broadband mapping, the C-band spectrum auction, and the Ligado decision, among others, to be on the docket. 

Many of those were on the agenda at this week's Senate Commerce Committee nomination hearing for Republican FCC commissioner Michael O'Rielly. 

WASHINGTON — With control of the Senate possibly passing to the Democrats and the House perhaps losing a dozen to two dozen seats, there could be some big changes in the principal Federal Communications Commission oversight committees.

After the Nov. 8 election, the second campaign season gets in gear as legislators angle for those plum posts in a new Congress.

Even though the House is unlikely to change hands — Republicans have the biggest majority (59 seats) in almost 100 years — most of the potential post-election action in the lame-duck Congress on the communications oversight front is in that chamber.

House Energy & Commerce Committee chairman Fred Upton (D-Mich.) and Communications Subcommittee chairman Greg Walden (R-Ore.) are term-limited and will have to give up their respective seats. Walden is looking to take over Upton’s chair, but has competition from John Shimkus (R-Ill.), who has seniority.

Walden is well-liked and, as head of the National Republican Congressional Committee, raises money and strategizes to help elect and re-elect Republicans to Congress. There were differing opinions on that race from sources both on and off the Hill, who asked not to be identified. One source believed seniority would win out and Shimkus would get the big chair. But another said Walden’s fundraising counted for a lot and predicted he would get the full committee chairmanship.

While Republicans will almost certainly lose seats, Walden reportedly has been advising them to run local races for a year now, a wise strategy given the questionable coattails of the eventual Republican presidential nominee.

If Walden does not get it, there might be a way for him to remain atop Communications despite his term limits. There have been talks about moving oversight of the Federal Trade Commission from the Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade Subcommittee to Communications, which would reconstitute Communications and allow Walden to chair that newly reconstituted committee.

That would make sense now that the FCC and FTC are having to team on overseeing online privacy.

If the FTC move doesn’t happen, vice chair Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) would be in line for the chairmanship of the Communications Subcommittee given that she is currently vice chair.

Following up on its April 30 FCC oversight hearing, featuring FCC chairman Tom Wheeler and commissioner Michael O'Reilly, the House Communications Subcommittee has scheduled a second hearing — FCC Reauthorization: Improving Commission Transparency Part II — for Friday, May 15.

No word on who will be asked to testify this time around.

At that April 30 hearing, the committee considered a trio of FCC process reform bills backed by Republicans, but Democrats also had some good ideas. Both will be the subject of the follow-up hearing.

"[T]he Subcommittee will examine additional bills to improve transparency and process at the FCC," the committee said. "Members will also review a number of additional draft proposals offered by Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden (R-Ore.) and the Democratic members of the subcommittee."