- As FCC chair, Carr will likely support Elon Musk's efforts to push BEAD funds towards satellite broadband, as well as weigh in on spectrum policy issues that would favor Starlink
- Project 2025 outlines many of Carr's stances on telecom and tech policy - most of which isn't in the FCC's jurisdiction
- Industry groups FBA and ITIF offered some circumspect remarks on the news
In a move pretty much everybody in the telecom industry saw coming, Donald Trump has tapped Commissioner Brendan Carr as the next Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chief. How exactly a Carr-led FCC will pan out remains to be seen, but we do have a pretty good idea on how it'll tackle some policy issues, particularly on the broadband front.
Trump said in a statement on Sunday that Carr “will end the regulatory onslaught that has been crippling America’s Job Creators and Innovators, and ensure that the FCC delivers for rural America.”
Carr, who has served as a commissioner since 2017, highlighted his policy views in the FCC chapter of the Project 2025 proposal. For instance, he has advocated for an improved spectrum coordination process as well as ending “wasteful” broadband spending policies. He’s also argued Big Tech companies to contribute to the Universal Service Fund (USF).
What’s less predictable is how Carr will “address tensions between his own past positions and what influences in the Trump White House will want,” according to New Street Research policy analyst Blair Levin.
Musky business
Billionaire Elon Musk, owner of SpaceX and its subsidiary satellite service Starlink, is poised to become an influential person in telecom and tech policy. Trump last week announced Musk, along with entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, will lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency.” Musk will also likely push to re-focus the BEAD program away from fiber and towards satellite broadband as the way to address the digital divide.
While Carr has no direct influence over BEAD, “we think he will be supportive of Musk’s efforts to divert funds, that were heading to fiber, to satellite,” Levin wrote in a note to investors Monday. Musk may also press the FCC to allocate more spectrum for Starlink.
But Project 2025 isn’t exactly clear cut on what we can expect from a Carr-led FCC. Most of what Carr proposes (e.g, cracking down on various tech platforms) is in the hands of other government institutions, said Levin. And aside from calling on Congress to require tech companies to contribute to the USF, Carr has not articulated his views on distribution reform.
Furthermore, Carr made no mention in the chapter about how he would address the expiration of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) or telecom’s transition away from copper.
According to Levin, those are “two issues where the FCC could have a significant market impact.”
John Heitmann, counsel for the National Lifeline Association (NaLa) recently told Fierce the FCC under Carr will likely take on “a more limited role” on telecom issues and that the agency will look to Congress to answer any major policy questions.
If tradition holds, Rosenworcel will step down closer to the date of Trump’s inauguration on January 20. The party in power has typically held a 3-2 majority at the FCC so they can carry out the president’s policy agenda.
“That means Carr will need to await confirmation of a third Republican before he can drive his agenda forward,” wrote Ted Hearn, publisher of Policyband, in Monday’s newsletter.
Industry groups offer praise - and caution
Various industry groups have issued statements congratulating Carr on his appointment, including wireless orgs CTIA and WIA, ITIF, NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association and the Fiber Broadband Association.
Joe Kane, ITIF’s director of broadband and spectrum policy, said Carr in his new role “should be careful to keep the FCC in its lane.”
“An agenda of careful adherence to the limited jurisdiction of the FCC will be essential,” Kane stated. “Expanding the regulatory state to go after ‘big tech’ or other partisan political targets would be out of sync with the new administration's mandate.”
FBA President Gary Bolton meanwhile said our country "still has quite a lot of work to do to ensure every community can access the valuable applications that high-speed broadband connects them to."
“And we will continue our unwavering support to all policymakers, providing them the research, resources, and expertise to make the best decisions for Americans," he said.
Read our reporting on what to expect from the Trump 2.0 administration here.