Starks' departure sparks new questions about FCC

With Democratic Federal Communications Commissioner Geoffrey Starks announcing his plans to leave the agency this spring, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr is that much closer to having a Republican majority on board. How much he needs that majority is another question. Already, Chairman Carr has done away with FCC diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, taking a particular interest in Comcast and Verizon. He launched the “delete, delete, delete” initiative to deregulate the FCC. And he’s targeting media outlets on the grounds of "news distortion," to name a few things. He’s done all that while the commission is split 2:2. Olivia Trusty, President Trump’s nominee for the third Republican seat on the commission, awaits a Senate confirmation hearing, which has not yet been set. Obviously, Chairman Carr doesn’t need an FCC majority to execute on his agenda, says analyst Blair Levin. “From my perspective, it’s kind of irrelevant,” he said. “Most of what Carr wants to do, he doesn’t need a majority to do. To get his majority, it doesn’t matter if it’s 4:1 or 3:2. Why would it make a difference?”