US President-elect, Donald Trump has appointed Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), as the agency’s new chairman.
The FCC, which oversees broadcasting, telecommunications, and broadband, operates independently but is subject to congressional oversight.
Carr, a seasoned member of the commission, previously served as its general counsel and has been unanimously confirmed by the Senate three times. He was nominated to the commission by both Trump and President Joe Biden.
Trump has suggested increasing White House influence over the FCC, aiming to address his concerns about TV networks’ unfavorable coverage. Carr has recently aligned with Trump’s views on technology and social media regulation.
Notably, he contributed to “Project 2025,” a Heritage Foundation proposal outlining plans to restructure federal agencies and reduce the size of the federal workforce under Trump’s second administration.
In a congratulatory statement to Trump, Carr highlighted the FCC’s prospective responsibilities, stating, “the FCC will have an important role to play reining in Big Tech, ensuring that broadcasters operate in the public interest, and unleashing economic growth.”
Trump commended Carr in his own statement, calling him “a warrior for Free Speech” who has opposed “regulatory Lawfare that has stifled Americans’ Freedoms, and held back our Economy.”
He further added, “He will end the regulatory onslaught that has been crippling America’s Job Creators and Innovators, and ensure that the FCC delivers for rural America.”
Currently, the FCC holds a 3-2 Democratic majority, but this dynamic is expected to shift next year when Trump can nominate a new member.
Carr recently criticized Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris’ portrayal on a show before the election, accusing the show of failing to provide Trump with comparable representation. In addition to his public commentary, Carr is a prolific contributor of op-eds.
In a recent Wall Street Journal article, he condemned the FCC’s decision to revoke a federal award for Elon Musk’s satellite internet service, Starlink. He described the move as “regulatory lawfare against one of the left’s top targets: Mr. Musk,” asserting that it was indefensible. “It couldn’t be explained by any objective application of the facts, the law or sound policy,” Carr argued.
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