Anna Gomez is a former NTIA, FCC deputy and former Sprint VP
President Joe Biden has selected a new nominee to fill the fifth seat on the Federal Communications Commission: Anna Gomez, a veteran telecom attorney who has held telecom-related positions across multiple federal agencies and who is also serving as the United States’ representative to the World Radio Conference 2023 to be held later this year in Dubai.
Biden also said that he plans to re-nominate Commissioners Brendan Carr, a Republican, and Geoffrey Starks, a Democrat, to the FCC.
Gomez has a long resume of telecom-related work in both the private and public sector. She joined the State Department earlier this year to lead U.S. preparations for WRC-23 in Dubai and also serves as Senior Advisor for International Information and Communications Policy in the State Department’s Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy; before joining State, she was a partner in Wiley LLP’s telecom media and technology group. Gomez was the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Deputy Administrator from 2009 to 2013. She spent 12 years working in various management positions at the FCC, including as deputy chief of the International Bureau; served as Deputy Chief of Staff in the National Economic Council during the Clinton Administration; and worked as VP for federal and state government affairs at Sprint Nextel.
More than halfway through Biden’s term, a full FCC has yet to be seated and the regulator is split 2-2. Traditionally, the FCC consists of two seats held by each party, with the chair’s party affiliation matching that of the White House. Since the departure of former Chairman Ajit Pai and the elevation of now-Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, the fifth seat has remained unfilled. Adding to the uncertainty is the fact that Congress allowed the agency statutory authority to auction spectrum to expire earlier this year and has yet to reinstate it, despite ongoing calls from across the industry to do so.
Biden’s previous nominee, Gigi Sohn, went through a contentious and drawn-out nomination process that ultimately resulted in her withdrawing her nomination. Sohn, seen as a strong consumer advocate who would potentially re-open the issue of net neutrality regulation, was also the first openly gay nominee to the FCC. Sohn was nominated in October 2021 and her nomination stalled in the Senate over the course of three hearings, and she withdrew from the process in March of this year.
Gomez appears to have wider bipartisan support, with a number of industry groups as well as all of her possible future colleagues on the Commission expressing their support for her nomination. Here’s what they said:
Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said that Gomez “brings with her a wealth of telecommunications experience, a substantial record of public service, and a history of working to ensure the U.S. stays on the cutting edge of keeping us all connected.” Rosenworcel congratulated all of the nominees and added, “I look forward to working with a full complement of FCC Commissioners to advance our mission to connect everyone, everywhere.”
Starks called Gomez “one of the Nation’s preeminent communications policy experts” and added that “her experience would bring a unique and valuable perspective to the
agency.”
For his part, Carr said that “Ms. Gomez’s career demonstrates a longstanding commitment to public service—from her leadership in the State Department’s Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy to her previous service as staff counsel in the U.S. Senate and roles at the FCC, White House, and National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). I would welcome the chance to work together as colleagues on policies that will protect consumers and promote the interests of all Americans.”
Republican Commissioner Nathan Simington offered “heartfelt congratulations” to Gomez on her nomination and add that “She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience with her to the Commission and I look forward to serving with her.”
Industry groups also seemed to react favorably to the nomination. CTIA President and CEO Meredith Atwell Baker said that Gomez “has amassed an impressive track record in public service and brings the knowledge and expertise needed to address the critical challenges we face in closing the digital divide and securing America’s 5G leadership. Throughout her career, Ms. Gomez has consistently demonstrated her ability to build consensus and navigate intricate policy landscapes to the benefit of all stakeholders. We look forward to her swift confirmation by the Senate.”
The Communications Workers of America (CWA) union praised Gomez as a “dedicated public servant who is highly qualified to serve on the FCC at this critical time,” while NCTA—The Rural Broadband Association said that Gomez has “a broad range of experiences working for service providers and in key leadership roles on telecommunications policy at several agencies … [and] a thorough understanding of the challenges of ensuring that all Americans have access to reliable and affordable connectivity.”
Brian Fontes, CEO of NENA – The 911 Association, said that his organization “strongly supports” Gomez’ nomination.
“I have known Anna for years as she served at the FCC, at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), and in private practice,” he continued. “Anna is a person of the highest integrity, and she is an expert in telecommunication law and policy. She fully understands all aspects of 911 and public safety policy. She will make an excellent commissioner.”
