On November 17, President-elect Donald Trump nominated Brendan Carr to chair the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the independent agency that regulates and oversees the nation’s communications networks. Carr, who was appointed as FCC commissioner by President Trump in 2017, has been an outspoken critic of content moderation efforts at social media networks such as It is expected that major companies will be targeted.
A well-known career trajectory
Carr has lived almost his entire life in Washington, D.C. Born in the nation’s capital, Carr attended Georgetown University and graduated in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in government. He pursued a legal career by enrolling at Catholic University of Columbus School of Law. My first job out of law school was at the D.C.-based law firm Wiley Rein, specializing in telecommunications law. From 2007 to 2008, he clerked for the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals before returning to Wiley Lane. Clerks serve investigative, advisory, and support roles for judges, and the federal clerkship is the most prestigious such position in the legal profession. That’s because, “From a purely resume-enhancing perspective, clerkships also give new lawyers the seal of approval that opens doors to opportunities at prestigious law firms, government agencies, and academia.” said the Federal Bar Association in a 2020 blog post. .
President Trump nominated Carr for a five-year term as FCC commissioner in 2017, but since he has already been confirmed by the Senate, no further action is required to become chairman. President Biden nominated Carr to the commission in 2023. If that seems puzzling, it’s because no more than three committee members can belong to the same political party.
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Mr. Carr authored a chapter in the Heritage Foundation’s much-discussed Project 2025 Manual titled “A Mission to Leadership: A Conservative Promise.” In Chapter 28, titled “Federal Communications Commission,” Carr recommends that the FCC take aim at “big technology” and curb some of its alleged abuses. He also recommended that the FCC stop interpreting Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996 as giving media platforms unlimited immunity for their content. Additionally, Carr believes that companies like Meta are suppressing conservative speech. “We must dismantle the censorship cartel and restore the right to free speech to ordinary Americans,” Carr said in the post. on X The day he was named FCC Chairman. Not everyone believes that it is so easy. “I don’t think the FCC has the authority to do this,” Adam Kovacevic, CEO of the Progressive Chamber, told the roll call, referring to Project 2025’s Section 230 reforms.
In his Project 2025 manual, Carr said Congress should “allow consumers to choose their own content filters and fact-checkers.” Carr also believes the FCC should ban social media platform TikTok and expand its “target list” of companies that should be prohibited from operating in the United States for national security reasons. Kerr also criticized the Biden administration for rejecting a bid by billionaire Trump ally Elon Musk to use federal funding to expand broadband access through his Starlink platform. Carr has praised Musk’s controversial 2022 acquisition of Twitter and is expected to award the tech mogul a federal grant. Carr also plans to change the agency’s internal practices. “Starting next year, the FCC will end its push for DEI,” Kerr said in the post. on X.
Carr’s appointment faced criticism from the left. Craig Aaron, co-chief executive officer of Free Press Action, told the Washington Post: “Brendan Carr sought this job by promising to follow the orders of Donald Trump and Elon Musk.” “I have been campaigning for the election,” he said. But his fellow FCC commissioners welcomed the news. “Commissioner Carr is a dedicated public servant and a recognized leader on many of the issues brought before the committee today,” Democratic Commissioner Jeffrey Starks said in a statement. Elon Musk congratulated Mr. X shortly after Carr’s appointment was announced.
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