FCC Democrats Back House Commerce 'Pencils Down' Request; FTC Also Gets One

Democratic leaders of the House Commerce Committee asked FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and FTC Chairman Joseph Simons Tuesday to stop working on major items in light of Joe Biden's election as president, which President Donald Trump is fighting. The House letter (see here and here) was expected (see here). Such requests are known colloquially as "pencils-down" requests.

FCC Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks supported the Capitol Hill statement. The FCC declined to comment and an FTC representative said there's no immediate comment.

“With the results of the 2020 presidential election now apparent, leadership of the FCC will undoubtedly be changing,” said the House letter to the FCC, signed by Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J., and Mike Doyle, D-Pa., chairman of the Communications Subcommittee. “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 White House and the Biden transition team didn't immediately comment.