The Senate approved Fri. by unanimous consent Robert McDowell抯 appointment as an FCC commissioner. The vote came after a tussle over a series of holds placed on his nomination the past 2-1/2 months. They weren抰 resolved until midday Fri. McDowell抯 arrival will bring the Commission to a full slate of 5 members for the first time in more than year and give FCC Chmn. Kevin Martin a Republican majority. Martin welcomed the nomination, saying in a written statement that McDowell 揾as a wealth of knowledge and expertise in the communications arena... I am anxious to have him onboard and look forward to working with a full complement of Commissioners.?McDowell fills out a term that ends June 30, 2009.nn揜ob McDowell's confirmation today is great news for the FCC,?said Senate Commerce Committee Chmn. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), who backed McDowell抯 nomination. As Stevens worked to get the nomination cleared, at several points the past 2 months he expressed frustration with the hold process, which is anonymous unless the member with the hold goes public. Holds on nominations are typically used as bargaining chits. For example, Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) announced in May that she removed a hold placed on McDowell's nomination intended to press the Bush administration to release money it had promised for Hurricane Katrina rebuilding efforts. Stevens said McDowell抯 nomination comes at a good time for the FCC, which 搘ill be required to implement portions of our communications bill, and it is essential it has a full complement of commissioners.?/font>
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