Brendan Carr assumed the role of Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on January 20, 2025, following his designation by President Donald Trump. His leadership marks a significant pivot in American telecommunications policy, characterized by a rapid transition from the regulatory frameworks established during the Biden administration toward a philosophy rooted in deregulation, infrastructure expansion, and national security oversight. At the center of this transition is the "Build America Agenda," a comprehensive strategic framework designed to streamline the deployment of high-speed networks, restore American leadership in wireless technology, and implement a more rigorous oversight of broadcast media practices.

The current direction of the FCC under Carr’s chairmanship reflects a decade of experience within the agency. Having served as a staffer, an aide to former Chairman Ajit Pai, General Counsel, and a Commissioner nominated by two different presidents, Carr has utilized his deep institutional knowledge to initiate what he describes as the largest deregulatory effort in the agency’s history. This shift impacts everything from how internet service providers manage their networks to how television broadcasters meet public interest obligations.

Core Pillars of the Build America Agenda

The Build America Agenda is not merely a slogan but a multi-faceted regulatory roadmap. It is anchored in the belief that federal "red tape" has historically acted as a primary barrier to closing the digital divide. By reducing the costs associated with building and maintaining telecommunications infrastructure, the agency aims to incentivize private capital investment in rural and underserved areas.

The agenda is structured around four primary objectives:

  1. Infrastructure Acceleration: Modernizing permitting rules to ensure that fiber and tower builds can proceed without lengthy administrative delays.
  2. Wireless Dominance: Reclaiming and auctioning spectrum to ensure the United States leads in 5G and subsequent 6G technologies.
  3. Deregulatory Efficiency: Systematically reviewing and removing outdated or burdensome rules that increase consumer prices or stifle innovation.
  4. National Security: Strengthening the supply chain and protecting American communications networks from foreign adversarial influence.

The implementation of these pillars has led to a series of high-profile proceedings, most notably the "Delete, Delete, Delete" initiative, which targets the removal of legacy regulations that the current leadership deems incompatible with a modern digital economy.

The Delete Delete Delete Proceeding and the Deregulatory Wave

Central to the FCC’s current operations is the "Delete, Delete, Delete" proceeding. This initiative represents a philosophical departure from the previous administration's approach to internet regulation. One of the most significant early actions under this framework was the reversal of Biden-era plans to expand government oversight of the internet through heavy-handed Title II regulation.

The argument for this shift is centered on investment. From the perspective of the current FCC leadership, classifying internet services under Title II—originally designed for 1930s-era rotary telephones—creates legal uncertainty that discourages broadband providers from expanding their networks. By returning to a "light-touch" regulatory framework, the agency seeks to create a predictable environment for long-term capital projects.

Beyond Title II, the deregulatory push has targeted several other specific areas:

  • Bulk Billing Arrangements: The agency moved to stop proposals that would have regulated bulk billing in multi-dwelling units (like apartments). The leadership argued that such regulations could have inadvertently increased internet prices for residents by as much as 50 percent and stifled competition among providers in residential complexes.
  • Environmental and Historic Reviews: The FCC has sought to streamline the oversight process for tower construction. By reducing the frequency and complexity of these reviews for small-cell deployments, the agency believes it can significantly decrease the time it takes to activate new 5G nodes in urban environments.
  • Copper Retirement: The agency is making it easier for telecommunications companies to retire old, slow copper lines and replace them with high-speed fiber-optic cables. This transition is seen as vital for the "Build America" goal, as maintaining dual networks (legacy copper and modern fiber) is viewed as an inefficient use of resources.

Restoring America’s Leadership in Wireless and Spectrum Policy

Wireless leadership is viewed as a zero-sum global competition, particularly concerning 5G and 6G development. Upon taking the chair, Carr emphasized that the FCC’s spectrum auction authority had previously lapsed in 2023, which he claimed put the country’s connectivity goals at risk.

The passage of the Working Families Tax Cut Act played a pivotal role in this area by restoring the FCC’s auction authority. Under this new legislative mandate, the FCC is required to auction at least 100 megahertz of spectrum in the upper C-band by July 2027, with a broader goal of 300 megahertz by 2034.

The Spectrum Sprint

To meet these deadlines, the FCC, in coordination with the White House, initiated a "spectrum sprint." This is a high-intensity review process designed to identify and clear candidate bands for commercial use. The focus on the upper C-band is particularly critical; these airwaves provide the optimal balance of coverage and capacity needed for high-speed mobile data and industrial IoT applications.

Advancing the Space Economy

The FCC's wireless strategy extends beyond terrestrial networks into the "space economy." The agency has become increasingly active in regulating satellite broadband constellations. The goal here is to ensure that the U.S. remains the preferred jurisdiction for satellite launches and operations while addressing the growing challenge of orbital debris. By streamlining the licensing process for satellite operators, the FCC is positioning the U.S. as a leader in the next generation of global connectivity, which relies heavily on Low Earth Orbit (LEO) technology.

Infrastructure and the Battle for High-Speed Connectivity

A recurring theme in Carr’s communications is the "harness and hard hat" philosophy. This perspective emphasizes the physical reality of broadband deployment—the crews climbing towers and laying fiber in trenches.

Permitting Reform

The FCC is currently working to harmonize permitting rules across different levels of government. One of the primary bottlenecks identified is the "utility pole attachment" process. For a new internet provider to enter a market, they often need to attach their fiber to existing poles owned by utilities. Disputes over "make-ready" costs and timelines can delay projects by months or years. Current FCC policy aims to simplify these negotiations and establish firm deadlines for pole owners to respond to attachment requests.

The Sioux Falls Model

The agency has often pointed to training centers in places like Sioux Falls, South Dakota, as the blueprint for its workforce development goals. The FCC is advocating for policies that not only fund the hardware of broadband but also support the training of a "blue-collar workforce" capable of maintaining this infrastructure. This includes supporting apprenticeship programs and ensuring that federal broadband subsidies are tied to efficient, pro-growth labor practices.

Media Oversight and the Search for Viewpoint Diversity

One of the more controversial aspects of the current FCC leadership involves the oversight of broadcast media networks. Under Carr, the agency has taken a more active role in investigating issues related to "news distortion," the enforcement of "equal time" requirements, and the impact of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies within large media conglomerates.

Investigations into News Distortion

The FCC has the authority to investigate broadcasters who intentionally falsify news reports. While the First Amendment provides broad protections for editorial judgment, the agency has signaled a willingness to scrutinize cases where "significant" news distortion is alleged. This has led to investigations into major television networks, focusing on whether their coverage meets the "public interest" obligations that come with their broadcast licenses.

The "Equal Time" Rule

With the political landscape becoming increasingly polarized, the FCC has emphasized the "equal time" rule. This regulation requires that if a broadcaster provides time to one political candidate, they must provide an equal opportunity to all other legally qualified candidates for that office. The agency has been vocal about ensuring this rule is applied fairly, particularly regarding appearances by high-profile figures on entertainment and late-night programming.

Diversity and Corporate Governance

A notable shift under Carr’s chairmanship is the scrutiny of DEI policies in the media sector. The agency has raised concerns that some corporate hiring and promotion practices might conflict with broader constitutional or legal standards. In some instances, the FCC has even suggested that business decisions, such as mergers and acquisitions, could be influenced by a company's commitment to "viewpoint diversity" rather than traditional demographic-based DEI metrics. An example of this was the involvement in the Skydance-Paramount merger, where discussions included the appointment of an ombudsman to ensure a range of perspectives in programming.

National Security and the Stance on Foreign Tech

National security is a cornerstone of the current FCC agenda. The agency has moved aggressively to identify and mitigate risks posed by foreign telecommunications equipment, particularly from Chinese manufacturers like Huawei and ZTE.

The "Covered List"

The FCC maintains a "Covered List" of communications equipment and services that have been deemed to pose an unacceptable risk to national security. Under Carr’s leadership, the agency has sought to expand this list and ensure that no federal subsidies are used to purchase equipment from these entities. Furthermore, the agency is overseeing the "Rip and Replace" program, which provides funding for smaller rural carriers to remove and replace existing insecure Chinese equipment from their networks.

Cybersecurity and AI Oversight

As technology evolves, the FCC’s security focus has shifted toward software and artificial intelligence. The appointment of a Chief AI Officer within the agency highlights the intent to use AI for better data analysis while simultaneously regulating its use in communications. For instance, the FCC is exploring how AI can be used to combat illegal robocalls and robotexts, which remain a top consumer complaint. At the same time, there is a focus on ensuring that AI is not used by foreign adversaries to compromise the integrity of American networks.

The Economic Impact on Consumers and the Digital Divide

The ultimate goal of the "Build America Agenda" is to drive down prices and increase access for consumers. The agency’s leadership argues that competition is the best price-control mechanism. By removing barriers to entry for new providers—whether they are fiber companies, wireless carriers, or satellite operators—the FCC expects the market to naturally lower costs for the average American family.

Cracking Down on Illegal Robocalls

Consumer protection efforts have been reinvigorated, particularly concerning robocalls. The FCC has moved to empower carriers to block "gateway" providers that allow high volumes of illegal foreign-originated scam calls into the U.S. network. By increasing the fines and legal consequences for these entities, the agency aims to restore trust in the telephone system.

Modernizing the Universal Service Fund (USF)

There is an ongoing discussion within the FCC about the future of the Universal Service Fund, which subsidizes telecommunications services for low-income consumers and rural healthcare providers. The current leadership has expressed a desire to reform the USF to ensure it is efficient and that its funding mechanisms are sustainable in an era where traditional phone service is being replaced by broadband.

Organizational Modernization and Key Leadership

To execute this ambitious agenda, Chairman Carr has assembled a leadership team with a mix of private sector and government experience. This team is tasked with modernizing the agency’s internal operations to be more responsive to the fast-paced tech industry.

  • Chief of Staff Scott Delacourt: Formerly a partner at Wiley Rein and a veteran of the FCC's Wireless Bureau, Delacourt oversees strategic initiatives and the agency’s overall management.
  • Chief AI Officer Arpan Sura: A new role created to lead efforts in harnessing AI for digital modernization and overseeing spectrum and space technology policies.
  • National Security Counsel Adam Chan: Focuses on the strategic competition between the U.S. and foreign entities, particularly concerning the technology supply chain.

The internal structure of the FCC has also been adjusted to improve coordination between the Wireless, Wireline, and Space bureaus. This "one agency" approach is designed to eliminate silos that previously slowed down the approval of multi-modal communication projects.

Summary of the Current FCC Landscape

The FCC under Chairman Brendan Carr is defined by a commitment to the "Build America Agenda," which prioritizes rapid infrastructure growth, aggressive deregulation, and a assertive stance on national security. By launching the "Delete, Delete, Delete" initiative, the agency is actively dismantling what it views as the regulatory overreach of the previous administration, particularly the Title II classification of the internet.

Simultaneously, the agency is pushing for a "spectrum sprint" to ensure the U.S. wins the race to 5G and 6G, while exercising its authority to investigate broadcast media for news distortion and lack of viewpoint diversity. For stakeholders in the telecommunications and media industries, this era of the FCC represents a shift toward a market-driven, "infrastructure-first" model that seeks to balance technological innovation with rigorous national security protections.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Build America Agenda at the FCC?

The Build America Agenda is Chairman Brendan Carr's primary policy framework. It focuses on accelerating the construction of high-speed internet networks by cutting regulatory red tape, restoring U.S. leadership in wireless spectrum, and strengthening national security.

How does the FCC's "Delete, Delete, Delete" initiative work?

This is a systematic deregulatory effort aimed at reviewing and removing outdated or unnecessary FCC rules. A major part of this initiative was the reversal of the Biden-era decision to regulate the internet under Title II (Net Neutrality) rules.

Why is the FCC investigating broadcast networks?

Under its public interest mandate, the FCC is looking into issues like news distortion and the enforcement of "equal time" rules for political candidates. There is also a new focus on investigating how corporate DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) policies might affect the diversity of viewpoints in media.

What is the role of the new FCC Chief AI Officer?

The Chief AI Officer, currently Arpan Sura, is responsible for integrating AI into the agency’s operations to improve efficiency and lead policy work in areas like spectrum management and space technology.

How is the FCC addressing 5G and 6G leadership?

The FCC is pursuing a "spectrum sprint" to auction more airwaves, specifically in the upper C-band. The goal is to provide more capacity for wireless networks and ensure the U.S. remains the global leader in mobile technology.

What is the "Rip and Replace" program?

It is a national security initiative overseen by the FCC to remove communications equipment from companies like Huawei and ZTE from U.S. networks and replace it with equipment from trusted providers.