President-elect Donald Trump announced Senate aide Olivia Trusty as his pick for FCC commissioner, which would give Republicans a majority at the regulatory agency.
Trusty is currently policy director on the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. In that role, according to Trump, “she has fought tirelessly to grow the Economy, empower Innovation, and reignite the American Dream,” he wrote in a post Thursday on Truth Social announcing her nomination to the FCC.
Trump has selected Brendan Carr, the senior Republican commissioner at the FCC, as the agency’s new chairman. Democrat Jessica Rosenworcel, the FCC’s outgoing chairwoman, is exiting as Trump takes over the White House. The confirmation of Trusty would establish a 3-2 GOP majority at the agency.
“Olivia will work with our incredible new Chairman of the FCC, Brendan Carr, to cut regulations at a record pace, protect Free Speech, and ensure every American has access to affordable and fast internet,” Trump said in the post.
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Trusty previously worked as an aide to U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Rep. Bob Latta (R-Ohio). She also was a staff member on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce’s Subcommittee on Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection. Earlier in her career, Trusty worked as a consultant for Verizon and served as a policy representative at Qwest, per her LinkedIn profile. Trusty has a master’s degree in American government from Georgetown University and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Comcast chief legal officer Tom Reid said in a statement about Trusty’s appointment, “Olivia Trusty’s extensive knowledge of communications policy makes her an exceptional choice as FCC Commissioner. We look forward to working with her and with the full FCC to address the nation’s crucial communication needs including broadband investment and deregulation. We applaud President-elect Trump on this strong choice.”
ACA Connects, a trade group that represents small and midsize cable and telecom operators, also issued a statement supporting Trusty’s nomination to the commission.
“I’ve followed Olivia’s work for more than a decade, dating back to her time with Congressman Bob Latta (R-Ohio),” ACA Connects president and CEO Grant Spellmeyer said in a statement. “Her record of accomplishment at Senate Commerce and Senate Armed Services speaks for itself. ACA Connects and all our members look forward to working with her and Chairman Brendan Carr to cut red tape, promote innovation in rural communities, and further empower America’s small and independent broadband providers to close the digital divide.”