Brendan Carr is the current Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). He assumed leadership of the agency on January 20, 2025, after being designated by President Donald Trump. A long-time veteran of the commission, Carr’s tenure marks a significant shift toward a deregulatory framework and a focus on rapidly expanding physical infrastructure under what he calls the "Build America Agenda."

Having served as an FCC Commissioner since 2017, Carr is the first Chairman in recent history to have climbed the ranks within the agency, starting as a staff attorney in 2012. His leadership is characterized by a push to restore American dominance in wireless technology, streamline the deployment of high-speed internet, and modernize the agency’s internal operations to reflect a fast-moving digital economy.

The Path to FCC Leadership

The appointment of Brendan Carr as Chairman is the culmination of more than a decade of specialized experience in telecommunications law and policy. Unlike many political appointees who enter the agency from outside the sector, Carr has a deep institutional memory of the FCC’s inner workings.

From Staffer to Commissioner

Carr first joined the FCC in 2012, serving in the Office of General Counsel. His early years were spent navigating the complex legal landscape of the Communications Act of 1934 and its subsequent updates. His expertise caught the attention of then-Commissioner Ajit Pai, whom Carr served as a legal advisor starting in 2014.

In 2017, Carr was nominated by President Trump to fill a vacancy on the commission and was subsequently confirmed by the U.S. Senate. He was re-nominated by President Biden in 2023, reflecting a rare level of bipartisan consensus on his technical qualifications, eventually being confirmed unanimously by the Senate three separate times.

Educational and Legal Background

Before his public service, Carr was an attorney at the law firm Wiley Rein LLP, where he specialized in appellate and telecom litigation. He holds a J.D. magna cum laude from the Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University. This legal foundation has informed his rigorous approach to administrative law, particularly his focus on staying within the statutory bounds set by Congress.

Core Policy Focus: The Build America Agenda

The central pillar of Brendan Carr’s chairmanship is the Build America Agenda. This comprehensive plan is designed to unleash high-speed infrastructure builds across the country by cutting red tape and incentivizing private investment.

Accelerating Broadband Deployment

One of the primary goals of the Build America Agenda is to close the digital divide, particularly in rural and underserved areas. Carr has frequently argued that the biggest obstacle to connectivity is not a lack of funding, but rather a thicket of federal, state, and local regulations that make it too expensive and time-consuming to build.

To address this, the FCC under Carr is focusing on several key areas:

  • Permitting Reform: Streamlining the process for obtaining permits to build cell towers and lay fiber optic cables.
  • Utility Pole Access: Implementing rules that make it easier and cheaper for broadband providers to attach their equipment to existing utility poles, which are often owned by utilities or municipalities.
  • Copper Retirement: Encouraging the transition from legacy copper-wire networks to modern fiber-optic infrastructure by removing outdated regulatory requirements that forced companies to maintain obsolete technology.

The "Climb the Tower" Philosophy

Carr is known for his "hands-on" approach to policy. He has regularly visited tower construction sites and training centers in states like South Dakota and North Carolina. By putting on a harness and climbing towers himself, he has gained a firsthand perspective on the challenges faced by the "blue-collar workforce" responsible for building America's networks. This experience has directly influenced his policy of reducing "needless and onerous regulations" that slow down these workers.

The "Delete, Delete, Delete" Deregulatory Initiative

Beyond infrastructure, Chairman Carr has launched the largest deregulatory effort in the history of the FCC, known as the "Delete, Delete, Delete" proceeding. This initiative aims to identify and eliminate agency rules that are redundant, obsolete, or harmful to competition.

Reversing Biden-Era Policies

A major component of this deregulatory push is the reversal of several high-profile policies from the previous administration. Carr has been a vocal critic of what he describes as "regulatory overreach."

  • Net Neutrality and Title II: Carr played a key role in the 2017 repeal of net neutrality rules and has consistently opposed efforts to reclassify internet service providers as "common carriers" under Title II of the Communications Act. He argues that such heavy-handed regulation stifles investment and that the internet flourished under the light-touch approach of the late 1990s and early 2000s.
  • Bulk Billing Regulation: Carr moved quickly to stop proposals that would have regulated "bulk billing" arrangements in apartment buildings. He contended that these arrangements often lower prices for residents and that government interference would lead to higher costs for consumers.
  • Digital Discrimination Rules: The current FCC is re-evaluating rules regarding digital discrimination, with Carr arguing that the previous definitions were too broad and could lead to government micromanagement of private business decisions.

Efficiency and Modernization

The "Delete, Delete, Delete" initiative also extends to the internal operations of the FCC. Carr is focused on improving the agency's efficiency by modernizing digital filing systems and reducing the time it takes to process license applications. The goal is to make the FCC an agency that operates at the "speed of the private sector."

Restoring America’s Wireless Leadership

In the global race for 5G and 6G supremacy, Carr has prioritized the availability of spectrum—the invisible airwaves that carry wireless signals.

Spectrum Auction Authority

A significant milestone for the current FCC was the restoration of its spectrum auction authority. This authority had lapsed in 2023 for the first time in history, creating a "spectrum pipeline" crisis. Through the Working Families Tax Cut Act, the FCC's authority was restored, allowing the agency to move forward with plans to auction vital bands of spectrum.

The C-Band and Beyond

Under Carr's leadership, the FCC has focused on freeing up large swaths of mid-band spectrum, particularly in the upper C-band. The agency is required by law to auction at least 100 megahertz of spectrum in the upper C-band by July 2027. This spectrum is considered the "Goldilocks" band for 5G because it offers both wide coverage and high capacity, making it essential for autonomous vehicles, smart cities, and advanced industrial automation.

Advancing the Space Economy

The FCC's Space Bureau is another area of high activity. Carr has advocated for policies that support the burgeoning commercial space industry, including low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations. By streamlining the licensing process for satellite launches and ensuring adequate spectrum for space-based communications, the FCC aims to keep the United States as the global hub for space innovation.

National Security and Foreign Interference

Brendan Carr has been one of the most hawkish voices in Washington regarding the role of adversarial nations in the U.S. communications supply chain.

The Focus on China

Long before becoming Chairman, Carr led efforts to withhold authorization from Chinese state-backed manufacturers like Huawei and ZTE. He argues that allowing these companies to embed their equipment in U.S. networks poses a significant risk to national security and privacy.

The current FCC continues to enforce and expand the "Covered List," which identifies communications equipment and services that pose an unacceptable risk to national security. Carr has also raised concerns about TikTok and other apps with ties to foreign adversaries, advocating for a broader interpretation of the FCC's public interest mandate to include national security considerations in broadcast and telecommunications licensing.

Protecting the Supply Chain

The FCC is also overseeing the "Rip and Replace" program, which provides funding to smaller, rural carriers to remove and replace equipment from untrusted vendors. Carr has pushed for full funding of this program to ensure that no part of the American network remains vulnerable to foreign surveillance or disruption.

Artificial Intelligence and Future Technologies

As AI continues to transform the economy, the FCC under Brendan Carr is positioning itself as a key player in the responsible adoption of the technology.

Appointment of a Chief AI Officer

To lead these efforts, Carr appointed Arpan Sura as the FCC’s first Chief AI Officer. In this role, Sura is tasked with leading strategic efforts to harness AI responsibly within the agency to serve the public more effectively. This includes using AI to improve the FCC’s own data analysis capabilities and modernize its digital interfaces.

AI in Telecommunications

The FCC is also exploring how AI can be used to improve spectrum management. By using AI algorithms to dynamically allocate airwaves, the agency hopes to increase the efficiency of spectrum use and reduce interference. However, Carr has emphasized a light-touch approach to AI regulation, cautioning against "pre-emptive" rules that could stifle innovation before the technology has a chance to mature.

Media, Section 230, and Public Interest

Brendan Carr has frequently expressed views on the intersection of big tech and free speech, particularly regarding Section 230 of the Communications Act.

Section 230 Reform

Carr has been a vocal proponent of reforming Section 230, which provides a "legal shield" for internet platforms regarding the content posted by their users. He argues that large social media companies have moved beyond being neutral platforms and are now engaging in editorial curation that should subject them to more transparency and accountability. While the FCC’s direct authority over Section 230 is a subject of legal debate, Carr has used his platform to advocate for a legislative or regulatory framework that prevents what he calls "arbitrary censorship."

Broadcast Obligations

In the realm of traditional media, Carr is looking at the public interest obligations of broadcasters. He has suggested that the FCC should ensure a "diversity of viewpoints" in news and programming, especially in the context of large media mergers. This includes a focus on ensuring that local communities continue to receive relevant news and information.

The Leadership Team: Key Staff at the FCC

The implementation of the Build America Agenda is supported by a team of experienced professionals in the Chairman's office and across the agency's bureaus.

  • Scott Delacourt (Chief of Staff): Formerly a partner at Wiley Rein and a veteran of the FCC's Wireless Bureau, Delacourt directs the agency’s strategic initiatives and serves as the Chief Operating Officer.
  • Greg Watson (Chief of Staff, Office of the Chairman): Watson oversees policy and strategic communications within the Chairman's immediate office, acting as the primary liaison with Congress.
  • Arpan Sura (Senior Counsel and Chief AI Officer): Sura handles matters related to wireless, space, and technology policy, while leading the agency's AI strategy.
  • Danielle Thumann (Senior Counsel): Thumann focuses on wireline, public safety, and consumer affairs, bringing experience from both the private sector and the FCC’s legal advisor roles.
  • Erin Boone (Senior Counsel): Boone manages matters before the Media Bureau, drawing on her extensive background in wireless and enforcement policy.

Conclusion

The chairmanship of Brendan Carr represents a period of intense activity and philosophical change at the FCC. By centering the agency's work on the Build America Agenda, Carr is betting that a combination of deregulation, spectrum availability, and infrastructure-first policies will drive the next wave of American economic growth.

From the "Delete, Delete, Delete" initiative to the strategic focus on national security and AI, the current FCC is moving to align telecommunications policy with a broader national strategy of domestic renewal and global competition. As the agency moves forward with its ambitious agenda, the impact of these policies will be felt in everything from the speed of rural broadband to the security of the nation's most sensitive communications networks.

Summary of Key Initiatives

  • Build America Agenda: Accelerating infrastructure deployment through permitting and pole-access reform.
  • "Delete, Delete, Delete": An unprecedented effort to remove outdated and burdensome regulations.
  • Spectrum Leadership: Re-establishing the spectrum pipeline and preparing for 6G.
  • National Security: Hardening U.S. networks against foreign adversarial technology.
  • AI Integration: Appointing a Chief AI Officer to modernize agency operations and monitor industry trends.

FAQ

What is the "Build America Agenda"? The Build America Agenda is Chairman Brendan Carr's primary policy framework. It focuses on removing regulatory barriers to building high-speed internet infrastructure, such as fiber and cell towers, to ensure all Americans have access to modern connectivity.

How does the FCC plan to handle 5G and 6G spectrum? The FCC is working to auction new spectrum bands, particularly in the C-band, following the restoration of its auction authority by Congress. This is intended to provide the necessary airwaves for the next generation of wireless technology.

Who is the first Chief AI Officer of the FCC? Arpan Sura was appointed by Chairman Carr as the FCC's first Chief AI Officer. He is responsible for directing the agency's policy on AI and using the technology to improve internal operations.

What is the "Delete, Delete, Delete" proceeding? This is a deregulatory initiative aimed at identifying and removing FCC rules that are no longer necessary, are redundant, or hinder the ability of telecommunications companies to compete and innovate.

When did Brendan Carr become the FCC Chairman? Brendan Carr assumed the role of FCC Chairman on January 20, 2025. He had previously served as a Commissioner and the agency's General Counsel.