Brendan Carr, a seasoned Republican member of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), has been chosen by President-elect Donald Trump to lead the agency responsible for regulating broadcasting, telecommunications, and broadband services.
Historically, Carr was viewed as a traditional Republican with pro-business views. Recently, however, he has adopted Trump’s approach towards social media and technology companies, aligning more closely with the former president’s administration.
“Brendan Carr is a strong advocate for Free Speech and has actively challenged regulatory practices that have hindered Americans’ freedoms and economic growth,” a statement from Trump emphasized. “He will combat the burdensome regulations that have been detrimental to American job creators and innovators, and ensure the FCC serves rural America effectively.”
The FCC, usually operating behind the scenes, often enters the spotlight during disputes regarding broadcast media. While technically an independent agency under congressional oversight, Trump has expressed intentions to exert greater executive control, particularly targeting networks he believes have been unfavorably critical of him.
Carr, who is currently serving his third term as a commissioner and has previously held the role of general counsel at the FCC, is recognized by both supporters and critics as a competent and personable leader.
Andrew Jay Schwartzman, a veteran telecommunications lawyer, acknowledges Carr’s qualifications, though he notes Carr’s “unusually public campaign” for the FCC chairmanship. Schwartzman points out that Carr has frequently appeared on television, particularly advocating for partial narratives on various FCC-related matters.
Carr contributed to Project 2025, a conservative agenda envisioned for a potential second Trump administration, although Trump disassociated himself from it during the campaign. Despite this, many themes from the project resonate in Trump’s speeches post-election. Carr maintains that he received the necessary approvals from FCC ethics officials for his involvement.
With a potential deregulatory agenda on the horizon, Carr is likely to advocate for easing restrictions on media ownership consolidation, following extensive rule changes initiated after recent Supreme Court rulings.
Earlier this month, Carr leveraged social media to criticize major tech companies like Apple and Facebook, labeling them as part of a “censorship cartel” that he argues must be dismantled. His views have gained traction with influential figures such as Elon Musk, who have expressed support for Carr’s FCC aspirations.
Carr has also endorsed legislation that would impose penalties on social media platforms that restrict users based on their viewpoints—an issue many conservatives, including Musk, have criticized tech giants for. Additionally, he supported Congressional action to prohibit TikTok, citing concerns over its operations in the current landscape.
Moreover, Carr has echoed Trump’s measures aimed at potentially revoking licenses from major broadcast networks for their content decisions, particularly criticizing NBC’s invitation to Vice President Kamala Harris for a skit shortly before the election.
“We must consider every option,” Carr stated. “If the violations are severe, the FCC has the authority to revoke licenses, and this serves as a deterrent for misconduct. The goal is to maintain fairness.”
The equal-time rule applies when a candidate files a formal complaint regarding opposing appearances on broadcasts, which could trigger compliance from networks. Following a spontaneous offer by NBC, the Trump campaign produced a promotional video that aired on national broadcasts shortly thereafter.
While broadcast networks don’t hold federal licenses themselves, they operate numerous licensed individual stations. The top three networks—NBC, ABC, and CBS—collectively manage 80 stations, making them essential assets in the broadcasting landscape. In light of ongoing tensions and grievances, Trump has already initiated legal actions against CBS News for their portrayal of his interviews.
