FCC Member Plans to Leave
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WASHINGTON — Kathleen Abernathy, a Republican commissioner at the Federal Communications Commission, said Thursday that she planned to leave the agency Dec. 9.
The Bush administration has yet to name Abernathy’s successor at the five-member agency, which regulates the communications and media industries. The FCC is typically split 3 to 2 in favor of the political party occupying the White House.
Bush has nominated Deborah Taylor Tate, a Tennessee state regulator, to fill an existing Republican vacancy, which came open when Michael Powell left the FCC earlier this year. Tate’s nomination requires confirmation by the U.S. Senate.
Sen. Ted Stevens, chairman of the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee and an Alaska Republican, has suggested some names to the White House for Abernathy’s seat. He declined to identify potential candidates.
Abernathy’s term expired last year, but she has been allowed to remain at the FCC until Congress adjourns this year.
During her tenure, she backed numerous major acquisitions, such as News Corp.’s purchase of DirecTV, and supported attempts to ease limits on media ownership and regulations for rolling out high-speed Internet.
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