The FCC commission will be down to just two commissioners as Nathan Simington will step down at the end of the week.
Simington was confirmed to his post in December 2020. He previously served as a senior adviser in the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, specializing in network and telecommunications policy and as senior counsel to telecom provider Brightstar Corporation.
With Simington’s exit the FCC is down to just Republican chairman Brendan Carr and Democrat Anna Gomez. Republican Olivia Trusty was nominated to fill the slot held by former Democrat chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel in January but has yet to be confirmed by the Senate, while Democrat Geoffrey Starks exited last month. It basically freezes FCC business as three commissioners are needed for a quorum.
Simington wrote,
I will be concluding my tenure at the Federal Communications Commission at the end of this week. It has been the greatest honor of my professional life to serve the American people as a Commissioner. I am deeply honored to have been entrusted with this responsibility by President Donald J. Trump during his first term.
The Commission is in excellent hands under the leadership of my distinguished colleague, Chairman Brendan T. Carr, and is supported by an extraordinary staff whose dedication to public service is second to none.
Throughout my tenure, I worked to defend free expression, safeguard national security, and promote infrastructure investment to benefit all Americans. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the outstanding individuals who have served in my office over the years, including Erin Boone, Jonathan Cannon, Tyler Bridegan, Adam Cassady, Marco Peraza, Michael Sweeney, Sara Rahmjoo, David Brodian, Ania Urban, Tom Struble, and Gavin Wax. It has been a privilege to work alongside each of them.
As I turn the page on this chapter, I do so with immense gratitude for the opportunity to serve and for the many colleagues and friends who made this journey so meaningful. I look forward to continuing to serve the public interest in the years ahead and to contributing to the vital conversations surrounding our communications infrastructure, national security, and technological leadership.
I remain committed to advancing the cause of limited government, free speech, and American innovation. These principles guided my time at the Commission and will continue to shape my future endeavors. As I move forward, I remain committed to shaping the future of communications policy and will continue to advocate for the values and priorities that have guided my public service.
