The Senate voted 55-43 Thursday to invoke cloture on FCC nominee Anna Gomez, clearing procedural hurdle that puts the commission on the precipice of shifting to a Democratic majority for the first time since President Joe Biden took office in January 2021. The commission has been in a 2-2 partisan tie throughout that period. Lobbyists expect the same or a near-identical result when the Senate votes on confirming Gomez. That vote is set to begin at 1:45 p.m. Eastern.

Senate Commerce Committee ranking member Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Communications Subcommittee ranking member John Thune, R-S.D., pressed the FCC Monday to reconsider its decision to hold off on awarding T-Mobile more than 7,000 spectrum licenses it bought last year in the commission’s 2.5 GHz auction while its sales authority remains lapsed. “The FCC appears to be holding onto T-Mobile’s $304 million payment while providing nothing in return,” the GOP leaders said in a letter to Jessica Rosenworcel we obtained first ahead of its release. “If it had been a private company that accepted payment and then refused delivery of goods or services, a customer would be well within its rights to sue for breach of contract. This circumstance is similar, but it is perhaps even more egregiously unfair given the power dynamics: a government regulator is withholding a legitimately obtained good from a regulated entity.”

The FCC will tackle three items, starting with the use of AI in spectrum management, at its Aug. 3 meeting, Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said Thursday. Drafts of the three items are expected later in the day. Rosenworcel also mentioned the notice of inquiry at an FCC workshop Thursday morning.

Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., voiced greater optimism Tuesday night about the prospects the committee will be able to advance a trio of FCC nominees Wednesday, including new pick Anna Gomez and incumbent Commissioner Geoffrey Starks. The pair's confirmation would bring the FCC to a 3-2 Democratic majority more than two years into Jessica Rosenworcel's chairmanship. The Senate Commerce executive session will begin at 10 a.m. in 253 Russell.

The Commerce Department’s Office of Inspector General plans to publish a “management alert” about NTIA’s “reliance on tribes’ self-certifications of their broadband status to determine their eligibility for grants under the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program,” Assistant IG-Audit and Evaluation Arthur Scott said in a Monday memo to NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson we obtained Tuesday night. OIG plans to release the alert Wednesday, officials said. TBCP is one of several federal broadband programs congressional Republicans have focused on since December as part of ramped-up scrutiny of the government’s connectivity spending.

A public interest group and a former Fox executive are calling on the FCC to block the license renewal of a Fox-owned TV station over the network’s misinformation about the 2020 election. The Media and Democracy Project’s petition to deny the renewal of WTFX-TV Philadelphia includes a declaration from former Fox executive and longtime communications lobbyist Preston Padden with communications to him from Fox head Rupert Murdoch that MAD says show Murdoch knew that information FOX stations were broadcasting was false. “It was obvious to me that Mr. Murdoch knew that Trump had lost the election and there was no basis for claiming election fraud,” said Padden’s declaration.

A California state court delayed enforcement of California Privacy Right Act (CPRA) regulations Friday. The CPRA had required the California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA) to start enforcing regulations implementing the sequel to the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) by Saturday.

The White House on Monday will reveal state allocations for the $42.5 billion broadband, equity, access and deployment (BEAD) program, said New Jersey Office of Broadband Connectivity Director Valarry Bullard on an NTIA videoconference Thursday.

The White House plans to announce on Monday President Joe Biden’s intent to nominate former NTIA acting Administrator Anna Gomez to the vacant fifth FCC seat and renominate sitting Commissioners Brendan Carr and Geoffrey Starks, congressional and other communications policy lobbyists told us Sunday night and Monday. The White House didn’t immediately comment.

Top Republican leaders on the House and Senate Commerce committees want the FCC's Office of Inspector General to review the commission's management of broadband money it received for the affordable connectivity program during the COVID-19 pandemic, saying in a letter to acting IG Sharon Diskin we obtained ahead of its Monday release that "it's important to understand" ACP's "record to date" as they decide whether to back extending its life. They seek answers by June 1. The request came ahead of a Wednesday House Commerce Oversight Subcommittee hearing that will be the panel's first specific foray into what’s expected to be a more critical look at recent broadband spending now that Republicans have the chamber majority.