Clyburn Takes Her Place on the FCC’s ‘Chairman’s Wall’

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Now-former FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn believes she can be a more effective advocate for marginalized people and communities outside the agency; That’s why she left this week. Today’s monthly public meeting will be the first in nine years without her, and leaves the FCC with a 3-1 Republican majority.

“I gave voice to some issues that, with all due respect, this agency had either punted, ignored or didn’t prioritize,” Clyburn told Morning Consult. “And at this juncture, from the inside, I just felt that I had done all that I could do to advance things down the road.”

Clyburn intends to be more vocal than appointed officials can be. As the daughter of U.S. Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC), there’s been speculation she will eventually run for his seat. She told Morning Consult, she had no announcement to make at this time. “I’m going to give it a try as Mignon Clyburn, private citizen, or Mignon Clyburn, change agent, without any type of title attached to my name. And I’m going to give that a try for the next few years.”

Appointed to the FCC in 2009, Clyburn became Acting Chairwoman after Julius Genachowski left in May 2013. She held that position until Tom Wheeler was appointed Chairman in October 2013. This week, her portrait was placed on the FCC’s Chairman’s wall. She called that “an honor,” in a tweet, stating she’s “incredibly grateful, humbled, and moved.”

Of Clyburn’s departure, Wireless Infrastructure Association President/CEO Jonathan Adelstein said Clyburn’s tenure, “will be remembered for her unfettered advocate on behalf of the American people – from rural America to big cities, and always keeping the underserved in mind. She has been a great friend to me personally and to the wireless infrastructure industry’s efforts to deploy broadband.”

“Her leadership on the FCC will leave a lasting impact on the way our mobile networks are deployed for years to come,” he added.

May 10, 2018

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