Clinton Extends FCC Commission Appointment

President Clinton announced the recess appointment of Susan Ness to the Federal Communications Commission, after the Senate failed to act on her nomination to remain another term at the agency. Ness was sworn in as FCC commissioner in 1994 and is the most senior of the five commissioners. The president nominated her in July 1999 to serve another term, but the Senate Commerce Committee, which oversees the FCC, has not voted on the nomination. The Constitution gives the president power to make temporary appointments during a congressional recess. The appointment stands until the end of the first session of the next Congress, in this case until about this time in 2001. Ness is among three members appointed by Democrats. The remaining two commissioners fill GOP seats. That is expected to shift when the new administration is sworn in, during which Republicans will take a majority in the five-member commission.