Biden Nominates Anna Gomez To Open FCC Slot

The president said today that he intends to nominate Anna Gomez to serve as FCC commissioner.

Gomez serves as a senior adviser for International Information and Communications Policy in the Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy. She served as the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Deputy Administrator from 2009 to 2013. She also served for 12 years in various positions at the FCC, including as deputy chief of the International Bureau and as senior legal adviser to then-Chairman William E. Kennard.

Gomez also served briefly as counsel on the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee on Communication and as deputy chief of staff of the National Economic Council during the Clinton Administration.

Prior to joining the State Department in 2023, Gomez was a partner in Wiley LLP’s telecommunications media and technology group. Gomez also was vice president for federal and state government affairs at Sprint Nextel and an associate at Arnold and Porter.

Born in Orlando, Fla., Gomez spent her childhood in Bogota, Colombia, before her family relocated to New Jersey. She earned her B.A. in pre-law from Pennsylvania State University and her J.D. from George Washington University Law School.

FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel issued the following statement today following President Biden’s announcement that he intends to nominate Anna Gomez to serve as FCC commissioner and to re-nominate Geoffrey Starks and Brendan Carr to serve additional five-year terms as FCC commissioners:

“I congratulate Anna Gomez on her nomination to serve as FCC commissioner. She 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. I wish her all the best during the confirmation process.

“I also want to congratulate Brendan on his re-nomination. From improving network resiliency in light of destructive hurricanes to keeping our networks safe in the face of evolving threats, the FCC has benefitted from his public service.

“In addition, I want to congratulate Geoffrey on his re-nomination. He has been a consistent advocate for expanding the reach of communications and the opportunities of the digital age to all. I especially want to thank him for his leadership on the creation of the Affordable Connectivity Program’s federal housing outreach effort. I value his partnership on this program and so many others.

“I look forward to working with a full complement of FCC Commissioners to advance our mission to connect everyone, everywhere.”

NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt said: “NAB congratulates Anna Gomez on her nomination by President Biden to serve as an FCC commissioner. Ms. Gomez possesses a wealth of experience in media and telecommunications, most notably from her service as acting administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration during the nation’s transition to digital television. With Next Gen TV launching in markets around the country, if confirmed, Ms. Gomez can bring her demonstrated ability to work with industry, manufacturers and consumers to help ensure a smooth and expeditious transition for millions of Americans.

“We applaud the Biden Administration’s ongoing commitment to diversity and are eager to work with all the commissioners on policies that better enable the broadcast industry to reflect the diverse communities we serve. NAB looks forward to the confirmation process and learning more about Ms. Gomez’s commitment to the critical services local television and radio stations provide to their communities.

“NAB also congratulates Commissioners Carr and Starks on their renominations. Both have demonstrated an appreciation for the importance of a vibrant local broadcast industry, and a willingness to roll up their sleeves to better understand the impact posed by today’s changed competitive landscape.”