News
Carr will succeed current FCC chair Jessica Rosenworcel in January
President-elect Donald Trump has named Brendan Carr as the next Chair of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), succeeding Jessica Rosenworcel.
Republican Commissioner Carr was was appointed to the FCC by then-President Donald Trump in 2017, after serving as the agency’s general counsel since 2012.
With a background in telecommunications law, Carr’s career has see him be a major advocate for rural broadband expansion, 5G deployment, and deregulating the telecoms industry. He is also a notable opponent of net neutrality, which was reinstated by the FCC earlier this year.
Big Tech will also likely be in the firing line under a Carr-led FCC. Carr has repeatedly pushed for reforms to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which shields tech companies from liability for user content, whilst simultaneously accusing these platforms of censoring Americans.
In addition to regulatory reform, Carr also wants tech companies such as Google and Facebook to contribute financially to the Universal Service Fund, which supports broadband development in underserved communities.
Carr’s overall approach to telecoms regulation can be seen most clearly in the chapter he contributed to Project 25, a policy initiative spearheaded by conservative think tank the Heritage Foundation that provides blueprint for radically reshaping the federal government. In his penned chapter, Carr emphasised that the FCC’s goals should be to:
– Rein in Big Tech,
– Promote national security,
– Unleash economic prosperity, and
– Ensure FCC accountability and good governance.
“Commissioner Carr is a warrior for free speech, and has fought against the regulatory lawfare that has stifled Americans’ freedoms, and held back our economy,” said Trump in a statement.
Carr’s leadership is expected to mark a stark contrast to Rosenworcel’s, emphasising deregulation and market-driven solutions over government intervention.
Rosenworcel, the FCC’s first female Chair and a Democrat, has led the agency since 2021. Her tenure focused on consumer advocacy and digital equity, prioritising programmes to expand affordable broadband access and close the digital divide. She championed initiatives like the Affordable Connectivity Program and strengthened net neutrality protections.
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