On Day One, Trump Makes Carr FCC Chairman

WASHINGTON, Jan. 20, 2025 – Brendan Carr has officially been designated Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, replacing Biden appointee Jessica Rosenworcel as head of the agency, according to a Monday post on Carr’s X profile followed by an official FCC press release.

“I am deeply grateful to President Trump and honored by his decision to designate me as Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission,” Carr's post said.

As an incumbent commissioner, Carr does not require Senate confirmation to serve as chairman.

The FCC’s website leadership page was updated on Monday to reflect his official designation.

President Donald Trump announced that he would name Carr FCC Chairman on Nov. 17, 2024.

In that post, Trump called Carr “a warrior for free speech” and said Carr would “end the regulating onslaught that has been crippling America’s Job Creators and Innovators.”

Carr, who has worked at the FCC for 12 years, the last seven as commissioner, said he is looking forward to creating jobs and growth through “agency actions on spectrum, infrastructure, and the space economy.”

He said in his X post today that media regulation is also a priority, echoing statements he has made in the past.

“The FCC has important work ahead on… tech and media regulation,” he wrote.

The new chairman concluded the post by voicing his enthusiasm to work with the new Trump Administration.

“I look forward to collaborating with the Trump Administration, my Commission colleagues, and the FCC's talented staff as well as Congress to deliver great results for the American people," he said.

Friends and old FCC colleagues like former FCC Chairman Ajit Pai praised Trump's decision and wished Carr well in his new post. Industry and trade associations aligned with Carr's regulatory approach saluted his designation.

"Throughout his career, Chairman Carr has proven himself committed to innovation and economic growth – from increasing unlicensed spectrum for Wi-Fi to enabling the spectrum innovation that's increasing mobile competition and creating U.S. jobs in the factories, farms, ports and more that can now own their own licenses," said Catherine Bohigian, Executive Vice President of Government Affair for Charter Communications, the second largest Internet Service Provider in the U.S. with a fast-growing mobile communications business.