Senate Confirms Anna Gomez as FCC Commissioner, Restoring Democratic Majority
In a significant development for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the Senate has confirmed Anna Gomez as President Biden’s pick for the commission. The confirmation marks the end of a prolonged partisan split within the regulatory agency and gives Democrats the power to pursue their major agenda items.
With a 55-43 vote, Gomez, an FCC veteran and communications policy adviser for the State Department, will now fill the third Democratic seat on the five-member commission responsible for overseeing broadband and communications regulation. This confirmation restores the agency to full strength for the first time under the Biden administration.
The 2½-year delay in confirming Gomez had negatively impacted the FCC’s ability to carry out essential tasks aimed at protecting Americans from potential abuse by telecom giants. Consumer advocates argue that the delay hindered efforts to reinstate net neutrality regulations and pursue stronger oversight of the telecommunications sector, both of which were outlined in President Biden’s 2021 executive order.
Gomez’s confirmation is expected to unlock the agency’s capacity for more aggressive oversight, potentially including the imposition of stricter utility-style regulations under Title II of the Communications Act of 1934. This move aligns with President Biden’s vision of a more regulated telecommunications sector.
The nomination process leading to Gomez’s confirmation was not without its challenges. President Biden initially nominated Gigi Sohn for the FCC role, but she withdrew after facing fierce opposition during a contentious 16-month confirmation battle. Republican leaders and conservative groups criticized Sohn as a partisan and launched a campaign against her nomination.
When Sohn’s nomination faltered, Biden nominated Gomez in June, highlighting her extensive experience in domestic and international communications law and policy. Despite reservations expressed by Sen. Ted Cruz and other Republicans during Gomez’s nomination hearing, the Senate Commerce Committee advanced her nomination in July.
Gomez’s confirmation is notable not only because it restores a Democratic majority to the FCC but also because it makes her the first Latina to serve on the commission since 2001. This achievement is significant for Hispanic civil rights groups and advocates who have long called for greater diversity in the agency and the media industry.
The confirmation vote saw some bipartisan support, with five GOP lawmakers voting to confirm Gomez. This support indicates potential areas of cooperation, but Sen. Cruz’s floor speech opposing Gomez’s nomination suggests that partisan disagreements over issues like net neutrality will continue.
Now that Gomez has been confirmed, the FCC can move forward with its regulatory agenda under the leadership of Joe Biden’s chosen commissioners. The agency will likely reverse many of the deregulatory efforts undertaken during the Trump administration and focus on enhancing consumer protection and ensuring a fair and competitive telecommunications sector.