President-elect Trump has nominated Brendan Carr to be the next chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which he has accused of “censoring” conservative views. This increases the possibility of collisions.
The FCC is an independent agency that regulates television and radio broadcasters, telephone and Internet service providers, and satellites.
Experts say Kerr, who has served as FCC commissioner since 2017, could seek to bring about sweeping changes at the agency regarding freedoms for tech and broadcast companies.
Here's what you need to know about the car.
Over 10 years of FCC experience
Mr. Kerr's journey with the FCC began more than a decade ago as an employee in 2012. He served as general counsel to former FCC Chairman Ajit Pai (R) for three years before becoming FCC general counsel in 2017.
President Trump appointed Carr to the commission in 2017, and President Biden appointed him again for a term that runs through 2029. Under federal law, the FCC can have up to three members from a single political party.
car won Follow us online In recent years, using social media, express his concerns We will examine the Biden administration's policies and discuss alternatives that should be pursued under a Republican administration.
President Trump said Sunday that Carr “has fought against regulatory laws that stifle American freedoms and stifle the economy.”
“He will end the regulatory onslaught that is paralyzing America's job creators and innovators, and ensure the FCC serves rural America,” he added.
The commissioner worked closely with Pai during the former commissioner's push to repeal net neutrality rules that require major internet service providers to treat all information that passes through their networks equally. .
The rule was first approved in 2015, but was repealed in 2017 under Pai's leadership.I voted earlier this year.The rule will be reinstated under the leadership of Democratic FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.
If Rosenworcel resigns, as is customary when a president of the opposite party takes office, Trump would appoint another commissioner, give Republicans a majority, and net neutrality rules could be rolled back again. It will open the way to sex.
Rosenworcel congratulated Carr. in a statement on monday.
“I am confident that Secretary Carr knows his staff well from his time here, the responsibilities of this new role, and the importance of continued U.S. leadership in communications,” she wrote.
Big Tech, Broadcast Network Critic
Carr, an outspoken critic of big social media companies, is expected to seek to rein in the power of Big Tech, especially if Section 230's immunity clause is repealed by Congress.
He made his priorities clear immediately after Trump's victory. write in statement“Once the transition is complete, the FCC will rein in Big Tech, ensure stations operate in the public interest, advance national security interests, and unlock economic growth while supporting law enforcement.” It will play an important role.”
car I said that last week too “The censorship cartel must be dismantled,” he said, accusing big tech companies of playing a “central role” in suppressing certain views.
President Trump touted this approach Sunday, calling Carr a “warrior” for free speech.
Michael Lazarus, managing member of Telecommunications Law Specialists, which advises clients on matters brought before the FCC, predicted reining in Big Tech companies will be a top priority for Carr.
“He's very committed to being reined in in some way to make sure there are rules of transparency for Big Tech to make sure things are equal from a conservative or liberal perspective. “We have been very vocal about it,” Lazarus said.
Mr. Kerr proposed a similar crackdown on television networks for alleged preferential treatment.
Earlier this month, when Vice President Harris appeared on the final “Saturday Night Live” episode before the election, he claimed that NBC was. try to “avoid” The FCC's “equal time rule” allows rival candidates to request equal airtime. NBC then aired a short message from President Trump to provide equal time to the president-elect.
Carr's focus on broadcast networks could be seen as a continuation of criticism by President Trump, who claims the networks are unfair to him and has called on the FCC to strip CBS and ABC of their broadcast licenses. expensive.
Comcast, which President Trump threatened to crack down on, I said, “You're welcome.” Carr said he has a “track record of success” and demonstrated leadership.
Writing the FCC section of Project 2025
Mr. Carr came under intense scrutiny from Democrats last summer. write a section About the FCC agenda in project 2025the conservative Heritage Foundation's policy blueprint for the second Trump administration.
The president-elect has sought to distance himself from the project, but Democrats have repeatedly targeted his relationship with the author.
Carr's section advocated repealing Section 230, a federal law that protects websites and social media companies from liability for content posted by their users.
The FCC should issue an order repealing the “broad non-text immunity” that social media companies enjoy under Section 230, Carr wrote.
“Courts have interpreted Section 230 broadly to give some of the world's largest corporations blanket immunity that is nowhere to be found in the statute,” he said.
“They did this in a way that overrode the limitations Congress has placed on the types of actions that internet companies can take while still enjoying the benefits of Section 230.”
Amendments to Section 230 have been considered for years. petition A bill by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration was introduced to clarify the provisions of Section 230 in July 2020, shortly before President Biden's victory, but is still pending with the FCC.
“I think the first step for him is to consider that petition, and that petition falls within the FCC's role under Section 230. “I've never had one, but a lot of experts in the field, who are real lawyers… say there's a case here,” said Fix Gear Strategies CEO and former Pai aide. one Nathan Riemer told The Hill.
Allies of Elon Musk
Carr is one of tech billionaire Elon Musk's most prominent allies and has advocated for a federal award for SpaceX's Starlink satellite service.
in Editorial Kerr wrote an article in the Wall Street Journal last month about the FCC's revocation of an $885 million award to Starlink for high-speed internet for rural homes and businesses.
“In my view, this is nothing more than a restrictive law against Mr. Musk, one of the left's top targets,” he wrote. “It's time to pivot. It's not too late to remove programmatic DEI requirements, price controls, technology bias, and prioritization of government-run networks.”
Mr. Musk is now one of Mr. Trump's staunchest allies and the president-elect's choice to head the Government Efficiency Board, and could benefit from Mr. Kerr's leadership.
“When it comes to broadband adoption and accelerating broadband deployment in the United States, I think you'll find that he's much more favorable toward satellite and new technologies,” Lazarus said.
The legal industry questions his plans
Some legal experts expressed concern that Carr's proposal may not be realistic or fall within the FCC's authority and would require Congressional approval.
“I think Mr. Carr will be looking very closely at whether there are any violations by the station and whether the station is operating in the public interest,” Lazarus said.
“But when it comes to these kinds of more far-fetched ideas, like considering whether we should take away the license, I think that's pretty far-fetched and I don't think we're going to do that.” Anything of that nature. Please,” he continued.
Blair Levine, a former FCC chief of staff and policy advisor at investment research firm NewStreet, poured cold water on Mr. Carr's potential authority over Big Tech companies.
“suddenly [the FCC] “I think that would be contrary to the law, and it would clearly contradict recent Supreme Court precedent that certain decisions must be made by Congress,” he said. There is.”
Updated at 3:44 p.m.
