President-elect Donald Trump announced Sunday night that he has appointed Republican Federal Communications Commissioner Brendan Carr to lead the agency.
Trump called Carr a “free speech fighter” and effusively praised the 45-year-old, who he first appointed to the FCC commissioner in 2017 during his first term in the White House.
“His current term ends in 2029, and in recognition of his outstanding accomplishments, I am appointing him permanent chairman,” the 78-year-old president said in a statement.
“Commissioner Carr is a free speech fighter who has fought against restrictive laws that stifle Americans' freedoms and stifle our economy,” he added. “He will end the regulatory onslaught that is paralyzing America's job creators and innovators and ensure the FCC serves rural America.”
Carr is already a member of the committee and was unanimously approved last year for a new five-year term, so if President Trump takes office, he will be able to serve immediately, bypassing the normal Senate confirmation process for selecting Cabinet members. can start as FCC Chairman. Politico reported.
“Thank you, President Trump!” Carr wrote in a statement on Sunday night's X show. “I am humbled and honored to serve as FCC Chairman. Now it’s time to get to work.”
“We must dismantle the censorship cartel and restore the right to free speech to ordinary Americans,” he later tweeted.
The FCC is an independent agency that regulates interstate and international communications, with two Republicans and two Democrats serving on the commission.
Jessica Rosenworcel is currently leading the agency under outgoing President Biden.
Carr was also nominated by Biden and has been unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate three times. He has been with the FCC since 2012, including as an advisor to then-FCC Chairman Ajit Pai.
In the months leading up to the presidential election, Kerr criticized the major networks for allegedly favoring Vice President Kamala Harris.
He denounced Harris' appearance on NBC's “Saturday Night Live” as a “clear and blatant effort” to circumvent the equal time rule.
NBC is licensed by the FCC to broadcast television and is therefore subject to stricter rules. The network ended up giving Trump free airtime by running campaign ads during NASCAR races and NFL broadcasts.
Carr, an attorney, also asked CBS News to release the full transcript between the news organization and Harris amid accusations that “60 Minutes'' edited the sit-down to make Harris look better. asked to do so.
CBS News has strongly denied any wrongdoing.
Kerr also expressed support for Elon Musk's efforts to obtain subsidies for broadband internet services.
“I want to congratulate Chairman Brendan Carr on a job well done,” President Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. “Lead us to a great future, Brendan!”
