Social-Media
Trump nominates hawk for social media as FCC 's new commissioner.
President Donald Trump has named Nathan Simington, a long-standing telecommunications lawyer, to be the next Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, as stated by Law 360.
The Verge announced for the first time last week that Simington had emerged as the leading contender to succeed new Republican Commissioner Mike O'Rielly. Simington, Senior Advisor to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), played a major role in the writing of the petition mandated by the Executive Order of the Trump Social Media Administration released during the summer. The order instructs the FCC, after receiving a petition from NTIA, to reinterpret Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.
The order was released in May after Twitter had pointed out two of Trump's tweets that included misleading comments about mail-in voting. It is uncertain whether the FCC plans to issue a formal notice of draft legislation and vote on the bill.
Simington 's appointment marks a major split with the Trump administration's past FCC appointments. Previously, the government nominated Republican commissioners in favor of light-touch telecommunications and infrastructure policy.
O'Rielly was recently nominated for a third term by Trump, but his confirmation was unexpectedly revoked after he made a speech voicing outrage about the administration's social media policy that would allow the FCC to play a significant role in controlling content management on social media sites.
As a republican, distressed voices are stifled by liberal tech officials, O'Rielly tweeted in May. At the same time, I'm deeply devoted to the First Amendment, which rules a lot here.
If Simington 's appointment was approved by the Senate, the FCC will have two Republican commissioners expected to vote in favour of the government's approval of the social media regulation. Republican Commissioner Brendan Carr wrote an op-ed last month in Newsweek suggesting that the FCC should mandate social media sites to request compliance reports close to what Internet service providers now do.
In addition to the appointment, O'Rielly sent Simington the best wishes on Twitter. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Mr. Simington for his appointment to join [the FCC], wrote O'Rielly, and give my best wishes for a smooth process of confirmation and a fruitful term of office at the Commission.
