Anna Gomez confirmed to fill FCC seat
Three years into the Biden administration, the Federal Communications Fee lastly has all 5 seats stuffed.
The U.S. Senate voted on Thursday to verify telecom legislation and coverage veteran Anna Gomez as an FCC Commissioner.
“Congratulations to Anna Gomez on her affirmation by the USA Senate. I look
ahead to welcoming her to the Fee,” stated FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel in a press release. “Anna brings along with her a wealth of telecommunications expertise, a considerable report of public service, and a historical past of working to make sure the USA stays on the slicing fringe of retaining us all linked. Her worldwide experience shall be an actual asset to the company. I sit up for working along with her to advance the company’s mission to make sure the advantages of contemporary communications attain everybody, all over the place and that the USA can proceed to guide within the digital age.”
“Ms. Gomez’s profession demonstrates a longstanding dedication to public service—from her management within the State Division’s Bureau of Our on-line world and Digital Coverage to her earlier service as employees counsel within the U.S. Senate and roles on the FCC, White Home, and Nationwide Telecommunications and Data Administration (NTIA),” stated Commissioner Brendan Carr, the longest-serving Republican on the FCC. “I welcome her as a colleague and sit up for working collectively on insurance policies that can shield customers and promote the pursuits of all Individuals.”
The FCC, an unbiased regulatory physique, has 5 seats; two are held by members of every social gathering, with management decided by the chair, who’s of the identical social gathering which holds the presidency. Since former Chairman Ajit Pai resigned on the finish of the Trump administration, the FCC has been break up 2-2 between Democrats and Republicans. Rosenworcel has managed this by specializing in actions with stable bipartisan assist, slightly than forcing 2-2 votes on points unlikely to succeed. Now, Rosenworcel can have the votes to advance a Democratic agenda.
President Joe Biden’s first FCC nominee, Gigi Sohn, was generally known as a fierce defender of shopper pursuits and an advocate for internet neutrality, elevating the likelihood that the contentious regulatory problem is perhaps reopened once more; Sohn was an advisor to former Federal Communications Fee Chairman Tom Wheeler when internet neutrality guidelines have been first imposed by the company (they have been later repealed underneath the Trump administration and then-Chairman Ajit Pai).Sohn’s nomination stalled over the course of a number of hearings and finally, she withdrew when it grew to become clear that her nomination wouldn’t win the assist of West Virginia’s Senator Joe Manchin, to cross within the narrowly-held Senate.
Gomez proved to be a nominee who might win bipartisan assist, with 5 GOP senators voting in favor of her nomination. She has an extended resume of telecom-related work in each the non-public and public sector. She joined the State Division earlier this 12 months to guide U.S. preparations for WRC-23 in Dubai and in addition serves as Senior Advisor for Worldwide Data and Communications Coverage within the State Division’s Bureau of Our on-line world and Digital Coverage; earlier than becoming a member of State, she was a accomplice in Wiley LLP’s telecom media and know-how group. Gomez was the Nationwide Telecommunications and Data Administration Deputy Administrator from 2009 to 2013. She spent 12 years working in numerous administration positions on the FCC, together with as deputy chief of the Worldwide Bureau; served as Deputy Chief of Employees within the Nationwide Financial Council throughout the Clinton Administration; and labored as VP for federal and state authorities affairs at Dash Nextel.
Her affirmation each ends the FCC break up and maybe additionally places some further urgency on the matter of the FCC’s expired authority to public sale spectrum. In latest commentary for The Brookings Establishment, Nicol Turner Lee, senior fellow in governance research and director of Brookings’ Middle for Know-how Innovation, reiterated the significance of the company having the statutory authority to public sale spectrum and even tied the way forward for the Inexpensive Connectivity Program to such authority; a invoice to reauthorize the FCC to carry auctions handed a Home committee within the spring, however went into limbo throughout the summer season recess.
Gomez’s affirmation was greeted with enthusiasm by telecom coverage teams. Meredith Attwell Baker, CTIA’s president and CEO, stated that Gomez’s “management because the U.S. Consultant to WRC-23, alongside her prior roles on the FCC and NTIA, are a testomony to an distinctive public service profession, underpinned by a eager understanding of coverage and regulatory landscapes. Her confirmed monitor report in authorities oversight of spectrum administration shall be invaluable to making sure America’s continued wi-fi management and increasing broadband entry for all Individuals.”
Matt Mandel, VP of presidency affairs for WISPA, stated that Gomez’s “years of expertise and immense skills have commanded common respect from the telecom and shopper communities, and we’re excited to start working along with her on the weighty communications issues of at this time and tomorrow.”
Wififorward congratulated Gomez on her affirmation and stated that it “appreciates all of the work she has completed, each within the non-public and public sectors, to advertise forward-thinking spectrum coverage making certain American management in connectivity and increasing digital entry for all Individuals. We sit up for working with Commissioner Gomez and her colleagues to deliver extra Individuals on-line and spur extra American innovation, together with by way of better entry to unlicensed applied sciences.”
The Nationwide Spectrum Consortium praised her “background working throughout companies, with worldwide our bodies and within the non-public sector makes her uniquely certified for the position.”
Aggressive Carriers Affiliation President and CEO Tim Donovan stated that “CCA is smitten by collaborating with Commissioner Gomez and a full Fee to handle the evolving challenges and alternatives within the quickly altering wi-fi panorama. We sit up for persevering with the vital work to supply ubiquitous wi-fi connectivity to learn each customers and the nation as a complete.”
