Democrats in the House of Representatives have written letters to the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Trade Commission, asking both agencies to “immediately stop work on all partisan, controversial items under consideration” now that the result of the 2020 presidential election is “apparent.”
The letters call on the agencies to cease any rulemaking until President-elect Joe Biden takes office in January.
The letter to the FCC was sent by Rep. Frank Pallone [D-N.J.], the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and Rep. Mike Doyle [D-Pa.], the chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology. The letter to the FTC was sent by Rep. Pallone and Rep. Jan Schakowsky [D-Ill.], who chairs the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce. In the letter to the FCC, the Democrats pointed out that Ajit Pai, the chairman of the FCC, made a statement four years ago, calling on the agency to stop controversial votes during the transition period between former President Barack Obama and President Donald Trump.
“As a traditional part of the peaceful transfer of power — and as
part of our oversight responsibilities — we strongly urge the agency to only pursue consensus and administrative matters that are non-partisan for the remainder of your tenure,” the Democrats wrote.
In response to the letters, FCC Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks, the two Democrats at the top of the agency, both asked the FCC to honor the request.
“Historically, the FCC has honored the transfer of power from one Administration to the next by pausing any controversial activity,” Rosenworcel said in a statement. “I urge FCC Chairman Ajit Pai to follow this past practice in order to ensure an orderly transition of agency affairs.”
As the longest-serving Democratic commissioner of the FCC, Rosenworcel is next in line to become the agency’s chairwoman.
