Meet the New FCC Chief: Brendan Carr and His Plans

Brendan Carr, chosen by President Trump for the Federal Communications Commission's top job, hit the ground running by vowing to fight “censorship” by tech giants. In just an hour after his appointment, Carr declared his priorities via social media. Instead of focusing on broadband internet and wireless spectrum like previous leaders, Carr targeted big tech companies for allegedly silencing conservative voices and promised to hold broadcasters accountable. His stance echoes Trump's campaign rhetoric. Carr has strong ties to SpaceX's Elon Musk, who praised Carr's appointment. Both share concerns about free speech online, with Carr even accusing Democrats of “regulatory lawfare” against Musk's Starlink service. If Carr gets his way, federal funds could flow to Starlink, benefiting Musk's ventures.

Recent years have seen conservatives complain about social media content moderation, arguing it stifles their views. Carr supports Trump's plans to protect First Amendment rights, even threatening to review tech companies’ activities. He singled out NewsGuard, a fact-checking startup, which vehemently denied Carr's accusations. Carr's Project 2025 chapter advocates harsh measures against Big Tech, aiming to “rein in” companies that threaten national security. He's against apps like TikTok, which he considers a security risk. Additionally, Carr backs the rollback of net neutrality and wants to change the law that protects tech companies from liability for user-generated content. The FCC oversees local TV and radio stations, and Carr intends to enforce public interest obligations strictly. While the FCC hasn't denied any license renewals for decades, Carr's alignment with Trump's views might change things. Some media reform groups worry Carr will champion Trump and Musk's agendas rather than the public interest.

Actions