--- title: "Biden’s Pick to Lead FCC is Big Supporter of Net Neutrality" description: "Biden has appointed Jessica Rosenworcel as acting chair for the Federal Communications Commission, a strong supporter of net neutrality." date: "2021-01-21" modified: "2021-01-21" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/biden-fcc-net-neutrality" categories: - "FCC" - "Future Society" tags: - "fcc" - "Net Neutrality" - "the digest" --- # Biden’s Pick to Lead FCC is Big Supporter of Net Neutrality ![Biden has appointed Jessica Rosenworcel as acting chair for the Federal Communications Commission, a strong supporter of net neutrality.]() *\Image: FCC\* ## Bringing It Back U.S. President Joe Biden [has appointed]() Jessica Rosenworcel as acting chair for the Federal Communications Commission, [*The Verge* reports](). Rosenworcel is a strong supporter of ne neutrality, the principle that ensures all internet communications must be treated equally and are classified as Title II "common carrier service," not Title I "information services." In other words, her appointment is a sign that we're headed into an administration that pushes an agenda friendly to net neutrality. ## Goodbye Ajit The appointment comes in stark contrast to the Trump administration's FCC chairman Ajit Pai, who [drew widespread criticism]() after [declaring war on net neutrality]() over his tenure. Pai [stepped down]() from the position in November. While Rosenworcel will serve as the interim chair of the FCC until an official chair is confirmed, her track record on net neutrality symbolizes a great shift amongst the ranks of the federal regulator, as [*The Washington Post* argues](). Rosenworcel has been the most senior Democratic commissioner at the FCC since August 2017. She has pushed for net neutrality ever since and supported the effort to bring broadband internet connectivity to every child in the country, an imitative known as closing the "homework gap." ## Starks Industries Advocacy groups are now pushing to have Biden nominate Democratic commissioner Geoffrey Starks as the next FCC chair, *The Verge* reports. Starks also supports net neutrality, broadband expansion, and ensuring that children have access to internet for online learning. Now that Democrats have a majority in both the House and the Senate, experts believe that Biden will likely get to choose his pick and eventually reinstate net neutrality, as [*Bloomberg Law* reported]() earlier this month. **READ MORE:** [Biden appoints Jessica Rosenworcel as acting FCC chair]() \[*The Verge*\] **More on the FCC:** *[Net Neutrality Hater Ajit Pai Is Stepping Down From the FCC]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()