What a Trump win means for the FCC and telecommunications policy

Though votes are still being counted, the verdict appears to be clear. Donald Trump won. So, now what? Surprisingly, that question has a few easy answers—as well as a few that are less clear. First things first. Historically, the party in power has held a 3-2 majority at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), allowing them to carry out the president’s policy agenda. Traditionally, the sitting chair has stepped down, allowing the President to pick a new FCC chief. So, with Trump in the White House, that means the FCC will be Republican-led and likely by sitting Commissioner Brendan Carr. Though Trump hasn’t specified his choice for FCC chair, Carr is the most senior Republican on the Commission and analysts have singled him out as the probable pick. Carr also happens to have authored a chapter in the Project 2025 policy proposal outlining the conservative take on what the future of the FCC should look like under the next Republican President. Highlights of his chapter include calls to rein in Big Tech via the elimination of Section 230 protections internet companies currently enjoy; to force internet companies to contribute to the Universal Service Fund (USF); to expand the list of companies which are deemed to pose a security risk to the U.S.; and to fully fund the Rip and Replace program to swap out suspect telecommunications equipment.