WASHINGTON-President Bill Clinton last week gave long-time supporter and FCC Commissioner Susan Ness an early holiday gift by naming her to a recess appointment on the Federal Communications Commission.
“I am honored that President Clinton has appointed me to serve a recess term at [the FCC]. I welcome the opportunity to continue to work with my colleagues and our exceptionally able and dedicated staff to promote economic growth, competition, innovation and benefits for American consumers,” said Ness.
In other appointments last week, President-elect George W. Bush nominated his long-time friend and campaign chairman, Donald L. Evans, to be Secretary of Commerce.
“We will strive to be an advocate for U.S. businesses, first in America and also those wading into the waters of the global marketplace,” said Evans.
Evans served as chairman of Bush’s presidential and Texas gubernatorial campaigns and raised money for Bush’s failed congressional bid in 1978. He is chairman and chief executive officer of Tom Brown Inc., an oil and gas company based in Denver.
The Department of Commerce includes the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, which oversees government spectrum use and is currently studying whether spectrum in the 1710 to 1885 MHz band can be made available for third-generation wireless.
The Clinton administration set out an aggressive timetable for both NTIA and FCC for allocating spectrum for 3G.
Ness’ term will now expire next fall at the end of the first session of the 107th Congress unless President-elect Bush nominates her to serve as an FCC Democratic member.
The FCC is made up of two Democrats (currently Ness and Gloria Tristani) and two Republicans (Michael Powell and Harold Furchtgott-Roth). The president chooses one member of his party to act as chairman-currently William E. Kennard.
The White House noted the deadlock that could have occurred if Ness had been required to leave.
“Without a member, the FCC is greatly hindered in fulfilling its mission,” said the White House.
Ness has been at the FCC since 1994 and has been its most senior member since 1997 when the other four current commissioners joined due to resignations and term expirations. She has served as a U.S. government representative to the 1995, 1997 and 2000 World Radiocommunication Conferences.
