WASHINGTON - Sayonara, Simington!
FCC Commissioner Nathan Simington to Depart Post
G'day, citizen! Here's a scoop for ya: Republican FCC member, Nathan Simington, is calling it quits this week. That puts the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in a bit of a pickle, soon to be good ol' boys club with only two commissioners - Republican Chair Brendan Carr and Democrat Anna Gomez.
Simington hopped on board in December 2020, with his term scheduled to last till the end of 2025. Democratic commissioner Geoffrey Starks said adios to the agency last May.
Guess who's stepping into the picture? Republican nominee Olivia Trusty, shortlisted by President Trump. Senate Republicans have already given Trusty a big thumbs-up, and once the Senate gives her a final nod, she'll be joining the FCC ranks.
Here's a quick lowdown on Olivia Trusty. She's a former Senate Armed Services Committee Republican staffer, ready to shake things up at the FCC. Her confirmation ensures a Republican majority, but there's a catch - recent exits have shaken up the balance, delaying the formation of a stable quorum.
Senate Republicans are eager to rush through Trusty's confirmation, following Simington's departure. However, as of early June 2025, she's yet to officially sign up with the FCC. The timeline for her confirmation depends on Senate action and ongoing negotiations about FCC appointments, particularly in light of bipartisan pushes to pair her confirmation with a Democratic nominee to retain the agency's equilibrium.
So that's the latest on Olivia Trusty, the incoming Republican commissioner. While Senate GOP leaders are pushing to speed up her confirmation, we'll have to wait and see when she officially joins the FCC. Stay tuned for more updates!
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- Upon her official confirmation, Olivia Trusty, the incoming Republican commissioner at the FCC, will join the Commission alongside Republican Chair Brendan Carr and Democrat Anna Gomez.
- trusty's confirmation will ensure a Republican majority on the FCC, though recent exits have disrupted the formation of a stable quorum.
- As a former Senate Armed Services Committee Republican staffer, Olivia Trusty is eager to bring changes to the FCC's content and policy-and-legislation, potentially affecting the broadcast of general-news, politics, and media on various IP-based platforms.
- The timeline for Olivia Trusty's confirmation depends on Senate action and ongoing negotiations about FCC appointments, which may include pairing her confirmation with a Democratic nominee to preserve the agency's balance.
- Broadcasters should keep an eye on Trusty's confirmation and her potential impact on the broader video industry, as her presence on the FCC may influence its approach to broadcaster regulations and policy under the FCC's jurisdiction, particularly in the ever-evolving field of general-news and political discourse.
