Home Login RADIO ONLINE RSS Facebook
Advertisement

Senate Moves to Restore FCC Quorum with Trusty


Olivia Trusty
Olivia Trusty

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) could soon return to full operational status following Senate Majority Leader John Thune's (R-SD) filing of cloture Thursday night on the nomination of Olivia Trusty, a former Trump communications advisor, to fill one of the agency's vacant commissioner seats.

Trusty's confirmation would restore a Republican majority at the FCC under Chairman Brendan Carr, who has been left presiding over a two-person deadlock with Democratic Commissioner Anna Gomez since June 6, when Republican Nathan Simington abruptly resigned. That same week, Democratic Commissioner Geoffrey Starks also exited, leaving the five-member agency with just two commissioners -- below the quorum required to conduct official business, including ruling on mergers and regulatory changes.

Thune's cloture filing triggers a limited debate period ahead of a final confirmation vote, which could happen as early as next week. Trusty has been nominated to serve the remainder of former Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel's term, expiring June 30, and to begin a full five-year term starting July 1. If confirmed, she would give Carr the GOP edge necessary to move forward on stalled deregulatory initiatives and other pending agenda items.

Carr hinted at upcoming developments in a June 4 message, writing, "There's a lot of time between now and our scheduled June 26 Commission meeting. Stay tuned on that front." The Senate will be out of session Thursday and Friday for the Juneteenth holiday, making Wednesday the most likely window for final action.

Trusty, who has held senior roles in communications policy, is widely viewed as qualified and was previously nominated by President Trump. However, Democrats have indicated they may resist her confirmation unless a Democratic nominee is advanced concurrently, raising the possibility of a broader partisan standoff over the Commission's future balance.

Simington's sudden departure -- reportedly without coordination with Carr -- has added fuel to speculation over internal Republican friction. At the Hispanic Radio Conference this week, telecom attorney Frank Montero remarked, "There's no love lost between the two Republicans that were there... Simington wrote a critical editorial the day after he left, and I think announcing on Wednesday that he's leaving Friday was a little bit of a 'go jump in the lake' move."

Meanwhile, 31-year-old Gavin Wax, Simington's former chief of staff and a rising conservative voice, is reportedly under consideration by President Trump to fill Simington's vacated seat. Wax has strong ties to Trump-aligned media figures and could bring a more combative tone to future FCC debates.

Even if Trusty is confirmed next week, two Commission seats will remain empty, and Trump has yet to name successors for either Simington or Starks. By law, no more than three FCC commissioners may belong to the same political party.

Advertisement

Latest Radio Stories

Corrie MacLaggan Named Executive Editor of KUT News
Corrie MacLaggan
Corrie MacLaggan
KUT Public Media has announced Corrie MacLaggan as the new executive editor for KUT News and The Texas Newsroom, effective September 1. In her expanded role, MacLaggan will shape KUT-FM/Austin's overall journalism strategy, working with editors to strengthen editorial innovation, foster collaboration, and More

Cayuga Media Group Announces Two Key Promotions
Joe Salzone
Joe Salzone
Cayuga Media Group, part of Saga Broadcasting in Ithaca, NY, has announced two major staff promotions as the company prepares for a leadership transition. Joe Salzone (pictured), currently News Director for WHCU-AM & FM, is named Operations Manager for the group's 10-station cluster. Salzone, who joined WHCU More

Eric Rosado Joins Sierra H. as Director of Content
Eric Rosado
Eric Rosado
Sierra H. Broadcasting has named veteran radio programmer and air personality Eric Rosado as its new Director of Content. Rosado will oversee programming and talent development for the company's flagship Phoenix stations, KZCE-FM (101.1 The Bounce) and KAJM-FM (Mega 104.3). In his new role, Rosado will also More
Advertisement

Jacobs Media to Present ''On Air Pulse'' Study
On Air Pulse
On Air Pulse
Jacobs Media will unveil findings from its latest air talent study, "On Air Pulse," during a free webinar scheduled for Wednesday, August 13 at 1pm ET/10am PT. The research offers a unique look into the mindset of Christian radio personalities and how their experiences and perceptions differ dramatically More

NY Road Runners, iHM New York Expand Radio Partnership
New York Road Runners
New York Road Runners
New York Road Runners (NYRR) and iHeartMedia New York have announced a multi-year expansion of their official radio broadcast partnership, extending through 2027 and deepening their collaboration around some of the city's most prominent running events. The new agreement builds on iHeartMedia's 2024 debut More

Inferno Radio Ceases Operations, Promises Necessary Reset
Inferno Radio
Inferno Radio
Inferno Radio, the Southwest Florida-based digital streaming platform known for its programming and community engagement, has announced it is ceasing operations under its current brand effective immediately. The abrupt shutdown comes in the wake of undisclosed internal issues, which the company says no More

Return to Menu

Advertisement

Subscribe to our Newsletter
Radio news and headlines delivered right to your e-mail box -- and it's free.

Advertisement

Advertisement