Policymakers

The Federal Communications Commission appoints the Honorable Michael A. Caron, Commissioner, Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority; the Honorable Karen Charles Peterson, Commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Cable; and the Honorable Brandon Presley, Commissioner, Mississippi Public Service Commission, to serve on the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service. These appointments fill the positions held by the Honorable Stephen Michael Bloom, Commissioner, Oregon Public Utility Commission; the Honorable Sally A.

Federal Communications Commissioner Nathan Simington has appointed Tyler Bridegan to serve as his acting media advisor, Erin Boone to serve as his acting wireless advisor, and Jonathan Cannon to serve as his acting wireline advisor. 

The Federal Communications Commission's monthly meetings showcase the agency’s highest-profile work. And by any metric, we have been more productive, more collaborative, and more transparent since January 2017 than at any time in recent history. At the 48 meetings held under my leadership, we’ve voted on a total of 286 items — an average of six (5.96, to be precise) items per meeting. That compares to a recent historical average of well under three. Of the votes on those 286 items, 205 (71.7%) featured no dissents and 253 (88.5%) were bipartisan.

The House of Representatives’ end of the year omnibus includes:

More than $7 billion in broadband funding as part of COVID-19 relief to:

The Senate on Dec 19 failed to move forward on two inspectors general because 12 Senate Republicans were absent, potentially costing President Donald Trump some lame duck appointees. In back-to-back 39-48 votes, the Senate was unable to take procedural steps to confirm John Chase Johnson to become inspector general of the Federal Communications Commission and Eric Soskin to become inspector general of the Department of Transportation. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) voted against the nominees, a move that allows him to bring them back to the floor whenever he wan

The House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee recommended the appointment of Representatives Angie Craig (D-MN), Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX), Kathleen Rice (D-NY), Kim Schrier (D-WA), and Lori Trahan (D-MA) to the Commerce Committee for the 117th Congress.

Rep Greg Walden (R-OR), one of the most influential conservative figures in the technology and telecommunications policy landscape, is set to retire from Congress. He pushed back on GOP-led calls for the Federal Communications Commission to step in on Section 230, even as FCC Chairman Ajit Pai faces pressure to do so before he leaves the agencyin January: “I'm not so sure that I want the FCC in the middle of all of this,” Rep Walden said. “Even if some think they have the authority, I'm not convinced that's the case.

Carolyn Roddy is now listed as acting chief of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration following previous acting Administrator Adam Candeub’s jump to the Justice Department.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai swore in Nathan Simington as the commission's newest commissioner. Simington’s term is back-dated to July 1, 2019, when the previous term of former Commissioner Michael O’Rielly was scheduled to end. The swearing in ceremony took place virtually as the FCC continues to work remotely amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Adam Candeub, the acting head of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration, has been named deputy associate attorney general. The political appointment does not require congressional confirmation. Candeub helped lead President Donald Trump’s crackdown against social media companies. Candeub has played a central role in carrying out Trump’s executive order targeting social media companies like Twitter and Facebook over allegations they censor conservative viewpoints.