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First, an update on low-power FM. Then, Sen. Ted Cruz is now effectively shutting down progress at the Federal Communications Commissioner. Cruz blocked the nomination of Thomas Wheeler for FCC Chairman Oct. 17. Previous chair Julius Genachowski left for a fellowship at the Aspen Institute last spring, and since then the commission is unable to move forward on major initiatives such as broadband expansion and spectrum reallocation. Cruz is blocking Wheeler, he says, "until he gets answers to his questions regarding Mr. Wheeler’s views on whether the FCC has the authority or intent to implement the requirements of the failed Congressional DISCLOSE Act. Mr. Wheeler had previously declined to give specific answers, but as he’s now expressed his readiness to revisit the Senator’s questions, the Senator hopes to communicate with him soon." The bill, currently stalled in Congress, would regulate campaign disclosures, according to TechCrunch.