Sullivan, FCC 'Working Through' Rural Healthcare Concerns; He's Hopeful End of Carr Hold Near
Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, told us Thursday he believes he and the FCC are getting close to a solution on his USF Rural Health Care Program concerns that will allow him to lift his hold on Senate confirmation of Commissioner…
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Brendan Carr to a full five-year term, but “we're still working through” that process. Sullivan made similar comments last week (see 1812050050). Sullivan went public with his hold in September and noted progress on his RHCP concerns after a November meeting with FCC Chairman Ajit Pai (see 1811160043). The hold on Carr delayed confirmation of Democratic FCC nominee Geoffrey Starks via pairing (see 1809130059). Sullivan cited the FCC's Wednesday adoption of an order to offer rural telcos more USF support in exchange for deploying more 25/3 Mbps broadband (see 1812120039) as a sign of further progress toward resolving his concerns. “The goal” remains to reach a final resolution on RHCP improvements before the Senate adjourns later this month, but there's no guarantee that will happen, he said. The Senate is expected to be in session at least next week to deal with FY 2019 federal spending legislation, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., threatened to keep the chamber in session during Christmas week “if necessary” to handle other agenda items.