Statement of REC Networks: Nomination of Olivia Trusty to the FCC
President elect Trump has nominated Olivia Trusty to serve on the FCC, subject to confirmation.
REC Networks, a leading advocate for citizen spectrum access, congratulates Olivia Trusty on her nomination by President-elect Donald J. Trump to be the fifth Commissioner on the Federal Communications Commission, replacing Jessica Rosenworcel, who will be stepping down after January 19, 2025.
If confirmed, REC will be introducing her to our world of small broadcast stations, including the 2,000+ Low Power FM (LPFM) licenses and construction permits.
LPFM is a beautiful diverse bipartisan mix of stations spanning the entire spectrum from liberal to conservative and everything in between, with a nearly equal mix of faith-based and secular licensees.
Her current position as the policy director of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation has already given her a view into the world of telecommunications, which further contributes to her overall qualifications for the job.
While we are not taking an actual position on her confirmation at this time, we will be watching the media from both sides of the aisle as well as how she does during the confirmation hearings before reaching such a position. This is normal for REC, regardless of the candidate.
We remain concerned about the threats made to noncommercial educational broadcasting in Project 2025, and we hope, that like Commissioner Nathan Simington, she takes a more analytical and a less political approach to paving the path for telecommunications policy over the next five years. Every person, from every walk of life, benefits in some way from the regulations and policies of the FCC.
REC will continue to work with all of the Commissioners to promote our bipartisan view of noncommercial educational broadcasting and continuing to send the message that small stations, both commercial and noncommercial, are serving their local communities in the public interest, as Congress intended through the Communications Act.