Brendan Carr, now Chairman of the FCC, is likely to focus on restoring the agency’s authority to auction spectrum. “There’s not even spectrum auction authority for the FCC right now, which is incredible when you think about wireless innovation being a leader of economic growth,” former FCC Chairman Ajit Pai told CNBC last week.
Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) said he wants to help Carr by adding auction authority into the pending budget reconciliation bill, reports Policyband. Over in the House, an early reconciliation draft would call on Carr to lay the foundation to raise $60 billion from spectrum auctions over the next 10 years.
“I think Brendan Carr is going to be a superb Chairman,” said Pai. “I worked very closely with him for many years and I know that he has both deep expertise in all of the issues as well as a determination to work hard to advance the ball in terms of American innovation and investment.”
President-elect Trump designated Carr his FCC Chairman on November 17. For now, Carr can control the FCC’s agenda. But he won’t have a voting majority with two Republican and two Democratic commissioners until Republican Senate aide Olivia Trusty, nominated last week by Trump, is confirmed by the Senate, Inside Towers reported.
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