Michael O'Rielly

Michael O'Rielly is a commissioner of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC), an independent agency of the United States government. He was nominated by President Barack Obama in August 2013[3] and was confirmed on October 29, 2013, taking office on November 4, 2013.[4] He was nominated to complete the term of outgoing commissioner Robert M. McDowell which ended on June 30, 2014. He was then renominated and reconfirmed by the Senate.[1][5] On August 3, 2020, The White House announced that President Trump was withdrawing O'Rielly's nomination to another term after Senate Armed Services Committee chairman Jim Inhofe said he would put a hold on the nomination and after O’Rielly expressed reservations about the FCC’s authority to limit social media companies’ legal protections.[6]

Michael O'Rielly
Commissioner of the
Federal Communications Commission
Assumed office
November 4, 2013
PresidentBarack Obama
Donald Trump
Preceded byRobert M. McDowell[1]
Personal details
BornLockport, New York[2]
Political partyRepublican[3]
Alma materUniversity of Rochester
WebsiteFCC biography

Education

Commissioner O’Rielly received his B.A. from the University of Rochester.[4]

Career

O'Rielly began his career as a Legislative Assistant to U.S. Congressman Tom Bliley from 1994 to 1995. He then served as a Professional Staff Member on the Committee on Energy and Commerce in the United States House of Representatives from 1998 to 2003, and Telecommunications Policy Analyst from 1995 to 1998.

From 2003 to 2009, O'Rielly worked in the office of U.S. Senator John E. Sununu, where he served as the Senior Legislative Assistant and later the Legislative Director. From 2009 to 2010, O'Rielly worked for the Republican Policy Committee in the U.S. Senate as a Policy Analyst for Banking, Technology, Transportation, Trade, and Commerce issues. From 2010 to 2013, O'Rielly worked in the office of the Senate Republican Whip as a policy advisor for U.S. Senator John Cornyn, and as a policy advisor, Deputy Chief of Staff, and Policy Director for U.S. Senator Jon Kyl.

Policy
Commissioner O'Rielly speaking at the 32nd Annual Institute on Telecommunications Policy & Regulation presented by PLI/FCBA

During his term as FCC Commissioner, O'Rielly voted against a proposal that would reclassify Internet service providers as Title II Common Carriers and impose net neutrality rules,[7] a proposal that would overturn state laws that prevent Internet service providers from competition from municipal broadband providers,[8] a proposal to change the technical definition of "broadband Internet" from at least 4Mbps to at least 25Mbps,[9] a proposal to use the LifeLine phone service subsidy program to subsidize broadband access to poor people,[10] and a 2015 ruling that expanded consumer protections against Robodialers.[11]

It is important to note that Internet access is not a necessity in the day-to-day lives of Americans and doesn’t even come close to the threshold to be considered a basic human right... People do a disservice by overstating its relevancy or stature in people’s lives. People can and do live without Internet access, and many lead very successful lives.

— Michael O'Rielly, June 25, 2015, Slate[12]

References
  1. R. J. Quianzon (October 30, 2013). ": Michael O'Rielly". CommLawBlog. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  2. O'Rielly, Michael (September 18, 2013). "Statement of Michael P. O'Rielly Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation September 18, 2013". Senate Committee Testimony. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. Retrieved January 13, 2014. By way of background, I was born and raised in a small city located on the Erie Canal, just outside Buffalo, New York. ... The people of Lockport are hearty, hard working, holders of strong faith, and fans of the Buffalo Bills.
  3. "Obama picks O'Rielly for Republican FCC seat". TheHill. August 2, 2013. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  4. "Commissioner Michael O'Rielly". FCC.gov. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  5. Kim, Anne L. (December 17, 2014), "Senate Confirms FCC's O'Rielly", Roll Call, archived from the original on March 4, 2016, retrieved February 27, 2015
  6. "Trump withdraws nomination of Republican FCC commissioner to serve new term". Reuters. August 3, 2020. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  7. Jon Brodkin (February 26, 2015). "FCC votes for net neutrality, a ban on paid fast lanes, and Title II". Ars Technica. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  8. Jon Brodkin (February 26, 2015). "FCC overturns state laws that protect ISPs from local competition". Ars Technica. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  9. Jon Brodkin (January 29, 2015). "FCC chairman mocks industry claims that customers don't need faster Internet". Ars Technica. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  10. Mark Wigfield (June 18, 2015). "FCC Takes Steps to Modernize and Reform Lifeline for Broadband" (PDF). Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  11. Eggerton, John (June 18, 2015). "FCC Clarifies Robocall Rules". Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  12. Lily Hay Newman (June 29, 2015). "FCC Commissioner Says Internet Access Is "Not a Necessity"". Slate. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
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