Jessica Rosenworcel will soon be vacating her position as chairwoman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) because President-elect Donald Trump has just nominated Brendan Carr to take over her role.
In his statement, Trump said that Carr is a strong advocate for free speech and talked about the latter’s track record of fighting against regulations that he feels limit Americans’ freedoms. In this spirit, Carr has pushed for important changes to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which currently protects social media companies from being held responsible for content posted by their users. Carr believes that while these platforms should have some protections, they shouldn’t have unlimited authority to control or moderate what people say online while avoiding accountability.
This indicates that the FCC may change some of its operations once Trump takes office as Brendan Carr plans to steer the agency towards reducing regulations and promoting a more open internet. Additionally, he has stated on X that he intends to move the agency away from previous priorities that emphasized Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
Some critics might argue that stepping away from DEI initiatives could worsen the gaps in access to communication services, particularly for underrepresented communities. However, Carr believes that focusing on accountability and transparency within tech companies is key to ensuring that everyone in America has the freedom to express themselves online. By pushing these values forward, he aims to create an environment where all voices can be heard, regardless of background.
Brendan Carr, who has a background as a staff attorney for the FCC and has been confirmed by the Senate thrice without any objections, is ready to use his experience in telecommunications law to update the agency’s infrastructure rules. His efforts in reform have already had a big impact, making it easier to build high-speed broadband networks and cutting down on the red tape that often slows down private development projects.