FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel Departs, Leaving Role Open for Trump Replacement Brendan Carr

Key Takeaways

• Donald Trump will appoint Brendan Carr as the next Chair of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
• Carr was first made an FCC Commissioner by Trump in 2017.
• During his tenure at the agency, Carr has accused the government of showing political bias against Elon Musk’s businesses.

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel will step down from the agency next year, clearing the path for Donald Trump to elevate his chosen candidate, Brendan Carr, to the role.

Rosenworcel’s departure will also create a vacancy on the five-person Commission. However, the President-Elect has yet to name his chosen candidate to fill the vacant seat, which will tip the balance of power in favor of the Republican members.

Jessica Rosenworcel To Step Down

First nominated to the FCC by Barack Obama in 2011, Rosenworcel was appointed to lead the agency in 2021 by President Biden.

Although her term doesn’t technically end until June 2025, she follows the established precedent of stepping down when the White House passes from one party to another, allowing the incoming President to select a candidate from their own party.

“I want to thank President Biden for entrusting me with the responsibility to guide the FCC during a time when communications technology is a part of every aspect of civic and commercial life,” Rosenworcel said in a statement .

Trump To Elevate Commissioner Carr to Chair

Having previously served as the agency’s general counsel, Carr was appointed as a Commissioner by Trump in 2017. Alongside Nathan Simington, he is one of two currently sitting Republican Commissioners.

Ideologically, Carr aligns with several positions that have become central to Trump’s platform, including his hard line against Big Tech’s attempt to limit free speech on social media.

Carr recently wrote to Facebook, Google, and Apple, accusing them of forming a “censorship cartel” to suppress conservative views online.

In a statement announcing Carr’s appointment, Trump’s transition team referred to him as a “warrior for Free Speech” who has “fought against the regulatory lawfare that has stifled Americans’ freedoms and held back our economy.”

As Chairman of the FCC, Carr is expected to enforce his hawkish stance on Big Tech regulation, which also extends to antitrust matters.

Besides Big Tech policy, Carr’s time at the FCC has been characterized by advocacy for rural Americans. This has led to his disagreement with his fellow commissioners on a plan for the government to subsidize Starlink broadband.

FCC Starlink Proposal

In 2020, the FCC awarded SpaceX’s Starlink $885.5 million through the Rural Digital Opportunities Fund (RDOF), a $20 billion government scheme intended to expand internet access in rural America.

However, in 2022, the FCC revoked the award on the grounds that Starlink had not yet met RDOF speed and latency targets for 2025.

In a final vote on the matter, the Commission was split two to three along party lines, with Carr and Simington dissenting from the Democratic majority.

In their opinions, the two Republican Commissioners countered their colleague’s logic, arguing that it was unfair to expect SpaceX to deliver performance targets set for 2025 three years in advance.

Government Accused of Targeting Musk Businesses

Carr, for his part, accused the government of targeting SpaceX as part of a wider crackdown on businesses owned by Musk.

“After Elon Musk acquired Twitter and used it to voice his own political and ideological views without a filter, President Biden gave federal agencies a green light to go after him,” he asserted.

With its revocation of the Starlink RDOF award, “the Federal Communications Commission adds itself to the growing list of administrative agencies that are taking action against Elon Musk’s businesses,” he added.

SpaceX Government Contract Back on the Cards?

After the FCC denied SpaceX the RDOF award, the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability launched a probe into the decision.

With that investigation ongoing and Republicans set to take majority control of the agency in January, Carr’s FCC could revive SpaceX’s funding.