FCC tips to Republican majority

The U.S. Senate on Friday unanimously confirmed President Bush's latest pick for the Federal Communications Commission for a term lasting until June 30, 2009. The elevation of Robert McDowell, a longtime telecommunications-industry lawyer, restores the FCC's full slate of five commissioners and tips what had been a political balance toward Republicans.

McDowell, 42, told senators during his March confirmation hearing that he prefers a free-market approach to solving problems instead of new regulations. He most recently served as a vice president at Comptel, a trade association that lobbies for smaller telecoms competing with the Bells. But McDowell told politicians he wouldn't let his previous line of work influence his decisions.