FCC's Carr Reveals His 'Building Agenda For America'

FCC Chair Brendan Carr

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, known for climbing communication towers including a 2,000-footer, delivered a 4,100-word policy speech Wednesday at Vikor’s tower climbing training center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Billed as his first major address as chairman, Carr outlined a “build agenda for America” focused on accelerating high-speed infrastructure, restoring U.S. wireless dominance, boosting the space economy, enhancing national security, and strengthening the telecom workforce through sweeping deregulation.

Radio World reports Carr lauded the Trump administration’s early moves, stating, “President Trump is taking quick action to usher in a new Golden Age for America.” 

He criticized the Biden administration for delaying high-speed internet access with excessive regulations, allowing global competitors to overtake the U.S., and letting the FCC’s spectrum auction authority lapse for the first time.

Key Policy Areas:

• 
  High-Speed Infrastructure: Carr announced a July 2025 FCC vote to initiate rulemaking for transitioning from outdated copper lines to modern high-speed networks. He also called for updating rules governing broadband builders and utility pole owners to ease fiber line installations and streamlining regulations that obstruct new infrastructure projects.
• Wireless Leadership: To regain global wireless leadership, Carr emphasized expanding spectrum access. The FCC is exploring the Upper C-Band for mid-band spectrum, building on a 2020 auction of 280 MHz for 5G. A recent proceeding targets 600 MHz in the 37 GHz band for commercial use, and Carr plans to push for auctions of long-unused AWS-3 band licenses. He welcomed Congress’s efforts to restore the FCC’s auction authority, stalled for two years.
• Space Economy: Carr aims to bolster U.S. space companies by clearing satellite application backlogs, reducing processing times, and eliminating outdated rules like power limits and siting restrictions. The FCC is enhancing GPS security and exploring more spectrum for satellite broadband, while streamlining “slow and bespoke” licensing processes.
• Modernizing Operations: Carr’s “Delete, Delete, Delete” initiative, described as the FCC’s largest deregulatory effort, recently eliminated 77 obsolete cable regulations, eight forms, 27 pages, and 11,475 words. A July vote will introduce a faster process to remove 40 additional rules, spanning 17 pages and 7,600 words, targeting outdated regulations for telegraphs, rabbit-ear receivers, and phone booths. The FCC is also upgrading its licensing databases to improve efficiency.

The speech is available at https://www.fcc.gov.