Commissioner Gomez on Civil Rights and Fairness

Federal Communications Commissioner Anna Gomez spoke at the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Legislative Summit, where she addressed efforts by the FCC and other government entities to intimidate private companies because of internal labor practices meant to promote fairness in hiring: “Private businesses all over the country are under attack. Creeping government intervention is making companies think twice about the way they describe internal diversity programs. They’re afraid the government may retaliate against them simply because of actions that are responsive to how consumers use their services or choose to buy their products. Sadly, the hard-fought lessons of the civil rights movement are being erased—or worse, distorted—to claim that fairness for all requires discrimination against some. That could not be further from the truth.” In recent weeks, the FCC has weaponized its regulatory authority to enforce government mandates that seek to eliminate voluntary efforts by private companies to increase fair and equal employment opportunities. In an unprecedented move, agency leadership has also signaled it will impose heavy regulatory burdens on companies that request approvals for mergers and other business transactions before the FCC, jeopardizing economic growth in the name of ideological purity.