Telecom Eyes Outcome of Pai-Sullivan Meeting for Carr Confirmation Implications

in progress Thursday evening (see 1811140058), well after the chamber completed its expected final votes for the week. Sullivan's RHC concerns led him to place a hold on Senate confirmation of Commissioner Brendan Carr to a term ending in 2023 (see 1809120056). The hold, which has lasted since September, means the Senate also must wait to confirm Democratic FCC nominee Geoffrey Starks because the intent is to advance them as a pair (see 1809130059). Sullivan told us before the meeting he believes problems with FCC handling of RHC “extend way beyond Alaska,” telling us “other senators have expressed concerns” about such Pai moves. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, who supports Sullivan's hold, told us she didn't plan to attend the meeting because of a scheduling conflict but Sullivan will brief her. “We need some certainty from the FCC” on its RHC decision-making progress, she said: “They can't just be determining arbitrarily what the rates may be. There needs to be some predictability.” Alaska-based GCI Communications appealed Wireline Bureau reduction in its FY 2017 RHC support by 26 percent to $77.8 million (see 1811130040). Pai didn't address the dispute with Sullivan and Murkowski during a Thursday news conference after commissioners met, and Carr and Commissioner Mike O'Rielly weighed in on general RHC issues. All USF programs “need predictability,” Carr told reporters. “We need to push for providing predictable support for needs like rural clinics.” O'Rielly said he's “raised concerns” about Universal Service Administrative Co. management in the past and has proposed privatization and other potential solutions.