Today, Commissioner Geoffrey Starks announced that he would be stepping down from his role at the Federal Communications Commission. Public Knowledge urges the president and the U.S. Senate to preserve the agency’s independence by swiftly nominating and confirming a Democratic Commissioner to join Commissioner Anna Gomez and keep the FCC at full strength.
In line with legislative history, a bipartisan FCC is necessary to carry out its mission of regulating the communications ecosystem and connecting America. Refusing to keep it jeopardizes the important work the agency does to close the digital divide while aiming to provide high-speed, reliable, and resilient networks no matter where people live. Any delay only benefits those companies the Commission is charged with overseeing at the expense of the American public.
The following can be attributed to Alisa Valentin, Broadband Policy Director at Public Knowledge:
“The president and the Senate must both urgently work to nominate and confirm a Democratic commissioner to replace Commissioner Starks and preserve the seat of Commissioner Gomez so the FCC maintains its historic and present bipartisanship. The failure of the president and Senate to do so would threaten the agency’s ability to strengthen our democratic media ecosystem and ensure that broadband is accessible and affordable to all communities without discrimination.
“A fully-staffed, bipartisan Commission further cements the agency’s independence and will allow for robust regulatory oversight, including diverse voices and viewpoints, to serve the American people.”