Sen. Sullivan Places Hold on Carr's FCC Reconfirmation Over Rural Health Care Program

Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, placed a hold on FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr’s reconfirmation for a full five-year term ending in 2023 over the senator’s continued concerns about the agency’s handling of the USF Rural Health Care Program under Chairman Ajit Pai. Confirmation of Carr and FCC nominee Geoffrey Starks has been stalled repeatedly in recent months. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., and others point to larger political factors as the major hurdle.

“I have major concerns” with how the FCC handles RHC given it's negatively affecting Alaskans, Sullivan told us Wednesday night: “And I’m not going to remove” the hold on Carr “until I get a commitment from [Pai] and his team on a plan to fix” ongoing problems with the program. Sullivan voiced frustrations on RHC during Senate Commerce’s August FCC oversight hearing, citing “underwhelming” response to problems with Alaskans’ 2017 applications to the program.

Sullivan told us he hasn't "heard a damn thing” from Pai since the hearing that effectively addresses his concerns.

The FCC and Carr’s office had no comment.