Trump’s Pick to Bring Digital Culture Wars to FCC: ‘He’s Going to Be a Loud Mouthpiece’

variety.com:

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer America’s culture wars are not usually waged at the Federal Communications Commission. With rare exceptions — like net neutrality — the New Deal-era agency stays out of the headlines, while focusing on issues like rural broadband access and stopping spam calls.

But that will change come January, when Brendan Carr becomes chairman of the agency under President Trump. Observers expect he will use the FCC as a platform to bash the media and tech for silencing conservative views. “You’re going to see Carr amplify whatever media grievance Trump has,” says Tim Hanlon, CEO of the Vertere Group, a consulting firm. “He’s going to be a loud mouthpiece.” The FCC has five commissioners, with the president’s party generally holding a three-member majority.

Carr is expected to pursue a standard Republican deregulatory agenda, including a repeal of net neutrality regulations and the relaxation of caps on TV station ownership.

But in the days since his nomination on Sunday, he has also shown he will not be afraid to mix it up on higher profile controversies.