Digital rights and other progressive groups on Thursday welcomed the election of President Joe Biden as Democratic Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel to lead the Federal Communications Commission in a new era of consumer advocacy after four years of former President Ajit Pai.
“As we face the pandemic, the economic crisis and the urgent need for racial justice, we need equitable access to reliable communication tools and accurate news and information. “
—Jessica J. González,
Free press
Rosenworcel’s appointment of Biden as president of the FCC follows eight years of commission service since the Obama administration. During his tenure, he proved to be a reliable advocate of increasing internet access for underserved populations, net neutrality and treating the internet as a public utility and as a strong opponent of corporate consolidation.
Rosenworcel’s positions were often in stark contrast to those of Pai, who was named FCC president by former President Donald Trump in January 2017 and led the repeal of net neutrality, the approval of the T-Mobile-Sprint megamerger – for which he accused of betraying the public interest in the service of large corporations – and other controversial policies.
Evan Greer, deputy director of the digital rights group Fight for the Future, said goodbye to Pai in November, saying he would “go down in history as one of the most corrupt government officials of the century.”
“His harsh attack on net neutrality and the blatant coddling of Big Telecom monopolies triggered the biggest partisan online reaction in the modern era,” Greer said. “As it disappears into the background, its satisfying behavior and Reese’s huge mug will become a warning meme – reminding internet users what happens when we don’t hold the government accountable.”
The fight for the future, on the other hand, welcomed the news of Rosenworcel’s appointment, while urging Biden to “appoint another champion of net neutrality … so that the FCC can return to work by providing accessible internet access in in the middle of a pandemic. “
That’s great. Now we need Biden to nominate another #neutrality champion and the Senate to move quickly to confirm them so that the FCC can return to work by providing accessible access to the open internet in the midst of a pandemic. https://t.co/PyiiuEhc0n
– Fight for the future (@fightfortheftr) January 21, 2021
Michael Copps, a former FCC commissioner and current special adviser to the non-partisan government reform group The Common Cause, called Rosenworcel “ideal for the job.”
“I know, because we worked together when she led my staff while I was commissioner there,” Copps said in a statement.
He added:
He knows the FCC from the bottom up and understands how to make good things happen there. She … demonstrated a mastery of problems that were rarely appropriate. Whether it brings broadband to every home in America, encourages the availability of the Internet for our schools, makes wise decisions about spectrum use, challenges telecommunications and media monopolies, [or] fighting against misinformation and misinformation, he has a combination of vision and practicality that make him perfect for the presidency. It is a real supporter of the public interest.
Jessica J. González, co-CEO of the media democracy group Free Press, also welcomed Rosenworcel’s appointment in a statement. It read, in part:
As we face the pandemic, the economic crisis and the urgent need for racial justice, we need equitable access to reliable communication tools and accurate news and information. We look forward to working with Home President Rosenworcel to restore the commission’s Title II authority under the Communications Act and to open up opportunities to finally close the digital divide, ensure reliable internet access and restore non-discrimination policies, such as be net neutrality.
We also hope to work closely on efforts to expand ownership and diversity of views in the broadcasting sector and to ensure that broadcasters are in the public interest.
In a statement, Rosenworcel said she was “honored” to have been elected to lead the FCC and would work to “expand the ability to communicate in the digital age.”
Today @POTUS appointed me interim president of @FCC. I am honored and excited to lead this great agency. Now, more than ever, we need to expand the communication opportunity for all of us. We have a lot of work to do and I can’t wait to get started.
– Jessica Rosenworcel (@JRosenworcel) January 21, 2021
Although Democrats – who now control the White House and both branches of Congress – intend to restore net neutrality, expand broadband subsidies and pursue other popular policies, Rosenworcel is likely to face serious challenges until Biden names a the third Democrat in committee and are confirmed by the Senate. It is not clear when this will happen; nor is it known whether Rosenworcel will remain as FCC president on a permanent basis.