Elon Musk Ally Brendan Carr Appointed as New FCC Chair Under Trump
Elon Musk’s ally, Brendan Carr, will lead the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC). President-elect Donald Trump announced Carr’s appointment as future president of the FCC. Carr, who has been a commissioner, is known for his radical views on telecommunications and large tech companies. He opposes net neutrality and accuses major tech firms of creating a “censorship cartel” through their content moderation policies.
As the highest-ranking Republican at the FCC, Carr received unanimous Senate confirmations three times. Trump highlighted Carr’s commitment to free speech and his efforts against excessive regulations that hinder job creators in America. Carr expressed gratitude for his appointment and emphasized the need to dismantle censorship and restore free speech rights for ordinary Americans.
Carr is also associated with the conservative Project 2025, which Trump distanced himself from during his campaign over fears of losing votes. Nevertheless, Trump has included several contributors from this initiative in his administration.
Recently, Carr criticized Democratic candidate Kamala Harris for her appearance on Saturday Night Live, calling for sanctions against NBC. Trump has previously suggested punishing networks he views as unfair. While the FCC operates independently, Carr’s ties to Trump and Musk may influence its actions.
Carr previously defended Elon Musk’s Starlink, which received $885 million in funding for rural broadband but did not meet its commitments. He argued in The Wall Street Journal that revoking the funds was unjust and targeted Musk.
While Carr supports deregulation, he wants to impose new rules on content moderation for major tech platforms. He recently requested information from leaders of companies like Apple and Microsoft regarding their content policies, viewing these practices as efforts to silence conservative voices.
Carr also opposes the new net neutrality regulations established by Democrats, which aim to protect the internet as an essential service. Under President Obama in 2015, net neutrality was established, but Republicans removed it in 2017. The subsequent effects were minimal.
Carr criticized the alarmist claims surrounding net neutrality, labeling them as misleading. He stated that broadband access has become more competitive, providing lower prices and faster speeds. He believes regulatory intervention will lead to reduced investment in the sector.