The FCC’s New Republican Supermajority is a Green Light for Telecom Greed

Let’s be clear: the latest move from the Oval Office isn't just a political maneuver—it is a direct threat to every person paying a monthly internet bill. In a blatant disregard for the historical norms that once ensured a semblance of balance at the Federal Communications Commission, President Donald Trump has nominated Danielle Thumann Severs to the commission.

As Ars Technica first reported, Thumann Severs is a lawyer who previously served as senior counsel to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr. If the Republican-controlled Senate confirms her, the FCC will move from a 2-1 Republican majority to a 3-1 advantage. Historically, presidents and the Senate worked together to maintain a 3-2 split, ensuring the minority party had a meaningful presence. Trump is tossing that playbook in the trash.

Why does this matter to you? Because a partisan FCC is a gift to the Big 3 telecom giants. When the commission is stacked with loyalists, the guardrails that protect consumers vanish. We are already seeing the warning signs. According to Ars Technica, FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez—the lone Democrat on the commission—has been a consistent critic of the current administration's efforts to gut broadband consumer rules.

With Thumann Severs potentially joining Chairman Carr, the administration gains more firepower to dismantle net neutrality and other essential protections. Without a balanced commission to push back, the Big 3 will have a green light to prioritize corporate profits over connectivity, likely leading to higher monthly costs for consumers without a shred of meaningful oversight.

The danger doesn't stop at a 3-1 split. While a law prohibits any single party from holding a total supermajority, the current trajectory is alarming. New Street Research analyst Blair Levin, a former FCC chief of staff, told Ars Technica that he does not expect Trump to appoint a Democrat to the remaining empty seat. Levin suggested a theoretical scenario where Trump could nominate a non-Republican who still supports the Trump and Carr agenda, effectively creating a 4-1 majority without technically violating the law.

Even more concerning is the precedent set at the Federal Trade Commission. Ars Technica reports that Trump fired both Democrats from the FTC, a move later upheld by the Supreme Court. While Commissioner Gomez has not been fired yet, the appetite for purging dissent is clearly there.

Senate Democrats, including Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), have called for a bipartisan approach to filling the commission. But as Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas.) told Politico, the committee will simply assess the nomination on its merits.

When the 'merits' are defined solely by the interests of the administration and the telecom lobbyists, the consumer always loses. We are witnessing the intentional dismantling of the FCC's independence, and your wallet will be the ultimate casualty.