Olivia Trusty is President-Elect Donald Trump’s pick to fill the seat on the Federal Communications Commission that will come open next week, Reuters reported.
Commissioner Brendan Carr, who is set to become chairman, said in a statement, “Olivia has had a distinguished career already on Capitol Hill and in the private sector, including her service at both the Commerce Committee and the Armed Services Committee in the United States Senate.”
If approved by the Senate, Trusty will give Republicans the 3–2 majority that is traditionally granted to the party that holds the White House.
Trump posted on TruthSocial, “Olivia is currently the policy director on the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, where she has fought tirelessly to grow the economy, empower innovation and reignite the American Dream. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Georgetown University. 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.”
She is a longtime staffer to Republican Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi. Back in November, Wicker was quoted by Politico giving a statement, “There is absolutely no one more capable of serving as an FCC commissioner than Olivia Trusty, and I am confident that President Trump and his team will come to that same conclusion quickly.”
The National Association of Broadcasters congratulated Trusty. In a statement, NAB President/CEO Curtis LeGeyt said, “As a senior staffer on the Armed Services and Commerce committees in both the Senate and House, Olivia has been heavily involved in every legislative debate impacting the broadcast industry for the past decade. In that capacity we have seen firsthand a work ethic, issue expertise and strategic acumen that will greatly benefit the FCC. Further, she is intimately familiar with the vital role local television and radio stations play in communities nationwide and the significant regulatory obstacles our industry faces. Her deep understanding of these issues will be instrumental in fostering policies that enable broadcasters to innovate and better serve our communities.”
In a recent analysis of regulatory issues that might come before the FCC (read it here), the law firm Akin had the following to say on the subject of the open FCC seat:
“How quickly [Carr] can embark on his agenda will depend on how quickly Congress can confirm another Republican commissioner to the FCC. During Chairwoman Rosenworcel’s leadership at the FCC, it took over two and a half years before there were five commissioners seated at the FCC, and she had a Democratic majority. Until the additional Republican commissioner is confirmed, the agency will be evenly split, with two Democrats and two Republicans, making it difficult to move ahead with most major reforms. Getting a third Republican commissioner confirmed by a Republican Senate should occur relatively quickly, but the Senate calendar is crowded, and other nominations will likely take priority.”
