GENACHOWSKI'S NOMINATION MAY BE PAIRED WITH A REPUBLICAN'S

摘要

A confirmation hearing for FCC nominee Julius Genachowski will be scheduled once the Senate Commerce Committee receives "procedural paperwork," a committee spokeswoman said. Chairman Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., will move "expeditiously ... and he looks forward to working with Genachowski," she said. It's unclear whether Genachowski's nomination will be paired with one for a Republican nominee. Commission appointments often are handled that way. A "short list" of Republican possibilities is said to be circulating. Senate Commerce Ranking Member Kay Hutchison of Texas is reportedly interviewing candidates. Hutchinson's staff is working with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky on whittling down a list of candidates, a McConnell spokesman said. nnThe several names said to be on the short list include those of former acting NTIA Administrator Meredith Baker; Lee Dunn, telecom counsel to Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.; Mike O'Reilly, a former telecom counsel to Sen. John Sununu, R-N.H., who now works for the Senate Republican Conference; and Hilda Legg, a former RUS administrator and McConnell aide. Republicans don't feel pressure to agree on a nominee right away, a lobbyist said. If Genachowski is confirmed alone, the next Democratic nominee -- to replace Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein -- would certainly be paired with a Republican one, the lobbyist said. Adelstein is reportedly in line to be appointed to lead the Department of Agriculture's RUS program.