Committee Approves FCC Nominees Clyburn, Baker

RADIO ONLINE | , , | :am CT

The Senate Commerce Committee on Tuesday approved FCC commissioner nominees Mignon Clyburn (pictured far left), a Democrat, and Meredith Attwell Baker, a Republican, leaving only a full Senate vote for their confirmation. Committee chairman Jay Rockefeller was optimistic that each will be confirmed before lawmakers go home in August. Nominations for the two women are expected to proceed through the Senate as a pair.

Once confirmed, Clyburn and Baker will complete the five-member panel under new FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski. Commissioner Michael Copps, a Democrat and Commissioner Robert McDowell, a Republican, both remain in place.

Clyburn is the daughter of House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC). She previously published a weekly newspaper in Charleston, SC, before serving on the South Carolina Public Service Commission for six years. She has also chaired the Washington Action Committee of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners.

Baker was most recently acting assistant secretary of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, where she oversaw the fed's DTV converter coupon program. Previously, she served as VP at Williams Mullen Strategies, and before that, senior counsel for Covad Communications. Baker worked at the U.S. Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit in Houston and later at DeLange and Hudspeth.