At his first Federal Communications Commission Open Meeting with a Republican majority, Chairman Brendan Carr moved quickly to launch his deregulatory agenda. With Commissioner Olivia Trusty officially sworn in, restoring a GOP-led quorum, Carr oversaw a slate of rollbacks, headlined by the removal of longstanding cable rate regulations.
The commission voted to eliminate rules stemming from the 1992 Cable Act, with Carr calling the decision a major first step in the agency’s new “Delete, Delete, Delete” initiative. “With this one vote, we’re getting rid of 77 rules or requirements, eliminating eight forms, and closing out several dockets—ultimately removing 27 pages and over 11,000 words from our rule books,” Carr said.
Commissioner Trusty, making her first official remarks, echoed Carr’s enthusiasm. “President Trump has prioritized deregulatory initiatives that will help reduce red tape, unleash innovation, and promote prosperity,” she said. “Rules that may have served a worthwhile purpose in decades past are no longer necessary in today’s video marketplace.”
The measure even drew support from the Democratic side of the dais. Commissioner Anna Gomez acknowledged the move as “a great example of where reduced regulation benefits everyone.” But she also made it clear that future cooperation would be selective. “That doesn’t mean I’ll agree with everything that comes next,” Gomez said.
Carr, speaking after the meeting, reaffirmed that the agency is committed to advancing deregulatory reforms, including a fresh look at broadcast ownership limits. While he did not advocate for a specific policy, he framed the conversation around localism. “We’re going to continue to execute on the agenda that we’ve laid out,” Carr said. “Empowering local broadcasters is key to that.”
Gomez pushed back strongly, warning that loosening ownership caps could accelerate industry consolidation. “This FCC proposal to unleash a new era of unregulated media consolidation is only about helping the largest broadcast companies grow even larger,” she said. “We need a scalpel, not a chainsaw.”
The FCC’s next open meeting is scheduled for July 24, where more changes are expected under the Carr-led commission.