President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Brendan Carr, wasted no time in setting forth his agenda. Carr, a senior Republican at the FCC, expressed his commitment to dismantling what he referred to as the 'censorship cartel' and restoring free speech rights for Americans.
Carr's comments, made on social media platform X, indicated a departure from past FCC chairs' focus on broadband internet deployment and wireless spectrum policy. Instead, he targeted technology companies for censorship, vowed to hold broadcast TV and radio stations accountable, and pledged to end the FCC's diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.
His alignment with President Trump's concerns was evident, as both have raised issues related to free speech rights and online censorship. Carr's past actions include supporting the rollback of net neutrality rules and advocating for legislation to amend Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.
Furthermore, Carr has been critical of Chinese social media platform TikTok, labeling it a national security risk that should be banned. His stance on TikTok mirrors Trump's previous calls for its prohibition.
While Carr's appointment has drawn praise from some quarters, critics, such as media reform group Free Press, have accused him of prioritizing personal vendettas over the public interest. However, others, like former FCC official Gigi Sohn, have acknowledged Carr's qualifications and character.
As Carr prepares to assume the role of FCC chairman, his stated priorities include reining in Big Tech, promoting national security, fostering economic prosperity, and ensuring FCC accountability and good governance. It remains to be seen how Carr's leadership will shape the future direction of the FCC.
