WASHINGTON-President Clinton last week nominated former wireless regulator Regina Keeney to the Federal Communications Commission, an appointment that while popular could run into delays in the Senate because of the presidential election this fall.
Keeney, who served as senior Republican communications counsel on the Senate Commerce Committee for nine years before being named chief of the FCC’s newly created Wireless Telecommunications Bureau in October 1994, is currently chief of the Common Carrier Bureau.
That bureau was responsible for crafting last week’s herculean interconnection decision, a ruling aimed at fulfilling Congress’ mandate for local competition in telecommunications.
Keeney, who will turn 42 later this month, also played a key role in getting the FCC’s auction program off the ground two years ago. She joined the FCC in 1983 as a member of the Common Carrier Bureau after a stint in the Washington, D.C., law offices of Hamel, Park, McCabe and Saunders.
Keeney had strong backing in Congress for a Republican vacancy on the FCC several years ago that San Francisco wireless attorney Rachelle Chong eventually won.
If confirmed by the Senate, Keeney would fill the Republican FCC slot that was vacated by Andrew Barrett at the end of March.
