Digital rights and other progressive groups on Thursday welcomed President Joe Biden’s choice of Democratic Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel to lead the Federal Communications Commission in a new era of consumer protection after four years of friendly administration by former President Ajit Pai.
“While facing the pandemic, the economic crisis and the urgent need for racial justice, we need equitable access to reliable communication tools and accurate news and information. “
—Jessica J. González,
Free press
Biden’s appointment of Rosenworcel as acting FCC president follows eight years of service from the commission, beginning with the Obama administration. During her tenure, she proved to be a credible advocate of increasing Internet access for underserved populations, net neutrality and treating the Internet as a public service, as well as being a staunch opponent of corporate consolidation.
Rosenworcel’s positions often contrasted sharply with those of Pai, who was appointed president of the FCC by former President Donald Trump in January 2017 and led the revocation of network neutrality, the approval of the megamerger T-Mobile-Sprint – whereby he was accused of betraying the public interest in the service of large corporations – and other controversial policies.
Evan Greer, deputy director of the digital rights group Fight for the Future, said goodbye to Pai in November by predicting that he “will go down in history as one of the most corrupt rulers of the century”.
“His insensitive attack on net neutrality and the shameless pampering of Big Telecom’s monopolies has generated the biggest online cross-reaction of the modern era,” said Greer. “As he disappears in the background, his smug behavior and the giant Reese’s mug will become warning memes – reminding Internet users what happens when we don’t hold our government accountable.”
Fight for the Future, on the other hand, welcomed the news of Rosenworcel’s nomination, while urging Biden to “appoint another net neutrality champion … so that the FCC can get back to work ensuring accessible access to the open Internet. in the middle of a pandemic. “
Great. Now we need Biden to nominate another #netneutrality champion and the Senate must act quickly to confirm them so that the FCC can get back to work ensuring accessible access to the open Internet in the midst of a pandemic. https://t.co/PyiiuEhc0n
– Fight for the Future (@fightfortheftr) January 21, 2021
Michael Copps, a former FCC commissioner and current special advisor to the non-partisan government reform group Common Cause, called Rosenworcel “ideal for the job”.
“I know, because we worked together when she led my team while I was a commissioner there,” Copps said in a statement.
He added:
She knows the FCC from the ground up and knows how to make good things happen there. She … demonstrated a mastery of issues that was rarely answered. Whether bringing broadband to every home in America, encouraging the availability of the Internet for our schools, making wise decisions about spectrum usage, challenging telecommunications and media monopolies, [or] struggling with lack of information and misinformation, she has a combination of vision and practicality that makes her perfect for the presidency. She is a true defender of the public interest.
Jessica J. González, co-CEO of the media democracy group Free Press, also welcomed Rosenworcel’s appointment in a statement. It said, in part:
While facing the pandemic, the economic crisis and the urgent need for racial justice, we need equitable access to reliable communication tools and accurate news and information. We look forward to working with Acting President Rosenworcel to restore the Commission’s Title II authority under the Communications Act and open opportunities to finally end the digital divide, ensure reliable access to the Internet and re-establish policies of non-discrimination, such as net neutrality.
We also look forward to working closely on efforts to expand ownership and diversity of views in the broadcast sector, and to ensure that broadcasters serve the public interest.
In a statement, Rosenworcel said she was “honored” to have been chosen to head the FCC and that she would work to “expand the reach of communication opportunities in the digital age”.
Today @POTUS appointed me acting president of the @FCC. I am honored and excited to lead this great agency. Now, more than ever, we need to expand the scope of communication opportunities for all of us. We have a lot of work to do and I can’t wait to start.
– Jessica Rosenworcel (@JRosenworcel) January 21, 2021
Although Democrats – who now control the White House and both branches of Congress – intend to restore net neutrality, expand broadband subsidies and pursue other popular policies, Rosenworcel is likely to face serious challenges in doing so until Biden nominates a third party. Democrat to the committee and they are confirmed by the Senate. It is not clear when this will happen; nor is it known whether Rosenworcel will remain a permanent FCC president.