Trump Picks Brendan Carr to Lead F.C.C.

## Trump Appoints New FCC Chairman Focused on Regulation Rollback

President-elect Donald J. Trump has chosen a new chairman for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), selecting a veteran Republican with ambitions to revise the agency's regulatory approach. The appointee, currently serving as a commissioner, supports reducing regulation, targeting Big Tech, and addressing biases in TV network content.

This decision is expected to transform the traditionally quieter FCC, which oversees airwaves, regulates phone costs, and promotes internet expansion. Trump has previously expressed a desire for the agency to scrutinize broadcasters like NBC and CBS for alleged unfair coverage.

The new chairman has been involved in drafting a document advocating for the FCC's regulatory expansion to include tech giants such as Apple, Meta, Google, and Microsoft, viewing them as part of a "censorship cartel" needing dismantling. This shift could significantly alter the FCC's role, leveraging it as a political tool to challenge Silicon Valley, potentially leading to legal showdowns over jurisdiction limits.

Despite these ambitions, external regulatory bodies like the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice currently hold significant power in technology oversight through antitrust actions and consumer protection. Moreover, any expansion of the FCC's regulatory reach over tech companies would likely require additional legislation, given the existing jurisdictional boundaries.

While the FCC is restricted from penalizing media outlets for editorial choices, the new chairman might use the agency's platform to influence companies through verbal pressure, threats of blocking mergers, or investigations into regulatory breaches.

During his tenure, this appointee has promoted high-speed wireless internet and supported previous efforts to roll back regulations such as net neutrality, although recent changes have restored those rules, with ongoing legal challenges.

Aligned with initiatives to curb tech dominance, the new chairman perceives the FCC as pivotal for safeguarding public interest, boosting economic growth, upholding national security, and supporting law enforcement.

In the past, he has opposed decisions involving Starlink, a satellite internet provider owned by an influential entrepreneur, criticizing retractions of financial grants as politically motivated actions against Starlink's owner.

In summary, the nomination signals a potential transformation in the FCC's role, emphasizing a regulatory approach more aligned with Republican perspectives and setting up a possible confrontation with major tech industries.