The U.S. Senate on Tuesday confirmed President Donald Trump’s Republican nominee to fill a vacancy at the Federal Communications Commission.
Olivia Trusty will serve out the remainder of former FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel’s term, which was set to expire at the end of the month, and has been confirmed to serve a full, five-year term of her own from July 1.
Trusty’s confirmation to the FCC gives current Chairman Brendan Carr a 2-1 Republican majority at the agency, which will allow Carr to execute on various telecom and media-related initiatives that are favorable to him and Trump.
Trump has yet to nominate individuals to fill two other vacancies at the FCC following the departures of former Commissioners Nathan Simington, a Republican, and Democrat Geoffrey Starks.
Industry groups lined up to congratulate Trusty on her appointment to the FCC on Tuesday.
“Olivia Trusty’s extensive expertise in communications policy will greatly benefit the FCC during a time of rapid innovation and rigorous competition across the industry,” Tom Reid, the Chief Legal Officer at Comcast, said in a statement. “We look forward to working with her and the Commission on issues critical to America’s global leadership, including broadband investment and spectrum policy.”
“Congratulations to Olivia Trusty,” Grant Spellmeyer, the President and CEO of ACA Connects, said on Tuesday. “With a strong record already as a public servant and more than a decade of experience in telecommunications policy, I have no doubt that she will be an excellent and well-respected Commissioner.”
The Desk was the first to report that the Senate would vote on Trusty’s confirmation this week.
