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 america Senate. I look
ahead to welcoming her to the Fee,” stated FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel in a press release. “Anna brings together with her a wealth of telecommunications expertise, a considerable file of public service, and a historical past of working to make sure america stays on the slicing fringe of preserving us all linked. Her worldwide experience will likely be an actual asset to the company. I stay up for working together with her to advance the company’s mission to make sure the advantages of recent communications attain everybody, in all places and that america can proceed to steer 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 stay up for working collectively on insurance policies that may 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 celebration, with management decided by the chair, who’s of the identical celebration which holds the presidency. Since former Chairman Ajit Pai resigned on the finish of the Trump administration, the FCC has been cut up 2-2 between Democrats and Republicans. Rosenworcel has managed this by specializing in actions with strong bipartisan assist, quite than forcing 2-2 votes on points unlikely to succeed. Now, Rosenworcel could 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 client pursuits and an advocate for internet neutrality, elevating the likelihood that the contentious regulatory subject could be reopened once more; Sohn was an advisor to former Federal Communications Fee Chairman Tom Wheeler when internet neutrality guidelines had been first imposed by the company (they had been later repealed below 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 turned clear that her nomination wouldn’t win the assist of West Virginia’s Senator Joe Manchin, to move within the narrowly-held Senate.
Gomez proved to be a nominee who may win bipartisan assist, with 5 GOP senators voting in favor of her nomination. She has a protracted resume of telecom-related work in each the non-public and public sector. She joined the State Division earlier this yr to steer 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 varied 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 in the course of the Clinton Administration; and labored as VP for federal and state authorities affairs at Dash Nextel.
Her affirmation each ends the FCC cut up and maybe additionally places some extra urgency on the matter of the FCC’s expired authority to public sale spectrum. In current commentary for The Brookings Establishment, Nicol Turner Lee, senior fellow in governance research and director of Brookings’ Middle for Expertise 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 in the course of 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 observe file in authorities oversight of spectrum administration will likely 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 abilities have commanded common respect from the telecom and client communities, and we’re excited to start working together with her on the weighty communications issues of immediately and tomorrow.”
Wififorward congratulated Gomez on her affirmation and stated that it “appreciates all of the work she has executed, each within the non-public and public sectors, to advertise forward-thinking spectrum coverage guaranteeing American management in connectivity and increasing digital entry for all Individuals. We stay up for working with Commissioner Gomez and her colleagues to carry extra Individuals on-line and spur extra American innovation, together with by better entry to unlicensed applied sciences.”
The Nationwide Spectrum Consortium praised her “background working throughout businesses, 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 passionate about collaborating with Commissioner Gomez and a full Fee to deal with the evolving challenges and alternatives within the quickly altering wi-fi panorama. We stay up for persevering with the vital work to offer ubiquitous wi-fi connectivity to learn each customers and the nation as a complete.”
