June 2018

The White House announced the nomination of Geoffrey Starks to be a member of the Federal Communications Commission for a five-year term. If confirmed, Starks would fill the seat vacated by Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, who announced her resignation in April. Starks and FCC Chairman Ajit Pai share Kansas roots. Starks currently works in the agency’s enforcement bureau, which investigates possible violations of FCC rules. The nomination does not come as a surprise as Starks was tapped for the role earlier in 2018 by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).

For years, Facebook has argued that it’s a platform: An unbiased technology service for all ideas, brands, media companies and people to distribute their work. That’s not really the case, argues Ben Thompson, the founder of the influential tech newsletter Stratechery. Thompson argued that Facebook and Google, two well-known “platforms,” are actually more like aggregators, an important distinction.

[Press release] As consequential as the Federal Communications Commission can be in communications policy, it is critical for those in leadership positions to acknowledge that its authority and reach is inherently limited. In fact, current law prevents the Commission from having any role or oversight over numerous modern technologies central to many Americans' communications habits.