Anna Gomez Confirmed to FCC: Impact on U.S. Telecom Policy

Table of Contents#

1. Who is Anna Gomez? Background and Expertise
2. The FCC Confirmation Process: Breaking the Deadlock
3. Key Policy Priorities for Gomez at the FCC
   • 3.1 Net Neutrality
   • 3.2 Broadband Access and Equity
   • 3.3 5G/6G Deployment and Spectrum Allocation
   • 3.4 Privacy and Consumer Protection
4. Implications for Stakeholders
   • 4.1 Consumers
   • 4.2 Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
   • 4.3 Rural and Underserved Communities
5. Conclusion: A New Direction for the FCC?
6. References

Who is Anna Gomez? Background and Expertise#

Anna Gomez brings decades of experience in telecommunications policy, both in the public and private sectors, making her a well-qualified addition to the FCC.

Public Sector Experience#

Gomez’s career in public service includes key roles at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), where she served as Acting Administrator and Deputy Administrator under the Obama administration. At NTIA, she focused on expanding broadband access, managing federal spectrum, and implementing policies to bridge the digital divide. She also worked at the U.S. Department of State, where she advised on international telecom issues, including global spectrum management and internet governance—experience that has proven valuable as the FCC navigates cross-border challenges like 5G security.

Private Sector and Advocacy#

Before rejoining public service, Gomez held leadership positions at Verizon, where she led the company’s global public policy efforts, and at Microsoft, where she focused on regulatory strategy. She has also advocated for tech policy at organizations like the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI), giving her insight into the needs of both corporations and consumers.

Her diverse background—spanning government, industry, and advocacy—positions her to balance competing interests while advancing policies that prioritize connectivity and innovation.

The FCC Confirmation Process: Breaking the Deadlock#

The FCC is composed of five commissioners, with no more than three from one political party. Prior to Gomez’s confirmation, the agency had four commissioners: two Democrats (Chair Jessica Rosenworcel and Commissioner Geoffrey Starks) and two Republicans (Commissioners Brendan Carr and Nathan Simington). This 2-2 split gridlocked decision-making on contentious issues, from net neutrality to broadband funding.

The Path to Confirmation#

Gomez was nominated by President Joe Biden in May 2023 to fill the vacant fifth seat. Her confirmation faced initial delays in the Senate, where Republicans expressed concerns about her stance on regulatory issues like net neutrality. However, bipartisan support emerged after she testified before the Senate Commerce Committee, emphasizing her commitment to “collaboration” and “evidence-based policy.”

On September 7, 2023, the Senate voted 55–43 to confirm Gomez, with five Republicans joining all Democrats in support. Her subsequent swearing-in on September 25, 2023, officially broke the 2-2 deadlock and gave Democrats a 3-2 majority, empowering Chair Rosenworcel to advance key aspects of the administration’s telecom agenda.

Key Policy Priorities for Gomez at the FCC#

With a Democratic majority, Gomez has aligned with Chair Rosenworcel on several high-priority issues. Here is an overview of the key outcomes:

3.1 Net Neutrality#

Net neutrality—the principle that ISPs should treat all internet traffic equally—has been a partisan flashpoint for over a decade. The FCC under the Obama administration adopted strong net neutrality rules in 2015, classifying broadband as a “Title II” utility to regulate ISPs as common carriers. The Trump-era FCC repealed these rules in 2017, reclassifying broadband as a “Title I” information service and weakening oversight.

Gomez historically signaled support for reinstating Title II classification, calling net neutrality “essential for a free and open internet.” With Gomez breaking the deadlock, the Democratic-led FCC voted 3-2 on April 25, 2024, to restore federal net neutrality rules through the Safeguarding and Securing the Open Internet Order. However, these rules faced immediate legal challenges from industry groups. In January 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (Ohio Telecom Ass'n v. FCC) set aside the FCC's order in its entirety. Drawing on the Supreme Court’s 2024 Loper Bright ruling that ended Chevron deference, the court held that the FCC lacks the statutory authority to reclassify broadband as a Title II utility without explicit congressional authorization. Consequently, federal net neutrality rules are not in effect, leaving consumer protections largely dependent on individual state-level laws.

3.2 Broadband Access and Equity#

Closing the “digital divide” remains a top priority. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) of 2021 allocated $65 billion to expand high-speed internet, primarily through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. Gomez, drawing on her experience overseeing broadband policy at the NTIA, has focused on the execution and oversight of these massive federal investments, ensuring ISPs meet deployment timelines and service quality standards.

However, efforts to maintain affordable access faced a major setback when the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)—which provided monthly broadband subsidies to over 23 million low-income households—officially ended on May 31, 2024, due to Congress letting its funding expire. While Gomez and Chair Rosenworcel strongly advocated for bipartisan legislative solutions to renew the program, no new federal funding has been approved, leaving the FCC to coordinate with state programs and ISPs' private low-cost plans to mitigate the impact.

3.3 5G/6G Deployment and Spectrum Allocation#

The U.S. is racing to lead in 5G and prepare for 6G, but deployment faces challenges like spectrum scarcity and infrastructure bottlenecks. A major hurdle was cleared in July 2025 when President Biden signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), restoring the FCC's spectrum auction authority which had lapsed in March 2023. The OBBBA extended this critical authority through September 30, 2034, and mandated the identification and auction of at least 800 MHz of spectrum.

Gomez’s deep background in spectrum management at the NTIA has been crucial as the FCC navigates this renewed authority. In June 2026, the commission successfully concluded its first auction in four years (the AWS-3 auction, or Auction 113). Under the OBBBA pipeline mandate, Gomez and the commission are also working to finalize rules for the auction of 160 MHz of "Upper C-Band" spectrum (3.98–4.2 GHz) by July 2027. Additionally, the commission continues to focus on reallocating underutilized federal spectrum, streamlining small cell and tower permitting, and securing telecom supply chains against foreign national security threats.

3.4 Privacy and Consumer Protection#

ISPs collect vast amounts of user data, from browsing history to location. Previous FCC privacy rules (adopted in 2016 but repealed in 2017) required ISPs to obtain opt-in consent before sharing sensitive data. Under Gomez’s tenure, the FCC has taken active steps to strengthen consumer data protections. In December 2023, the commission adopted updated data breach notification rules—the first major overhaul in 16 years—which went into effect in March 2024.

These updated regulations expanded the scope of protected customer data from basic Customer Proprietary Network Information (CPNI) to all Personally Identifiable Information (PII) held by carriers. They also broadened the definition of a "breach" to include accidental unauthorized disclosures and established strict notification requirements, mandating that providers report breaches to the FCC and federal law enforcement. In August 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit upheld these rules against industry challenges, solidifying the FCC's authority to protect consumer information in the digital age.

Implications for Stakeholders#

Gomez’s confirmation and the subsequent policy decisions of the Democratic-majority FCC have reshaped the telecom landscape for key groups:

4.1 Consumers#

• State-Level Net Neutrality Reliance: Since the Sixth Circuit struck down federal Title II rules in 2025, consumers must rely on individual state-level net neutrality laws for protections against traffic throttling or paid prioritization.
• Affordability Challenges: The expiration of the ACP in May 2024 removed critical subsidies for over 23 million low-income households, raising barriers to affordable connectivity.
• Enhanced Data Privacy: Consumers benefit from the FCC's updated data breach notification rules (upheld in 2025), which mandate stronger protections and swifter disclosures from carriers regarding their Personally Identifiable Information (PII).

4.2 Internet Service Providers (ISPs)#

• Regulatory Relief and State Patchwork: Major ISPs like Comcast, AT&T, and Verizon avoided Title II common-carrier classification at the federal level due to the 2025 court ruling, but they must navigate a complex patchwork of state-level net neutrality regulations.
• Spectrum Access: With the restoration of the FCC's auction authority in July 2025, ISPs have regained access to critical spectrum pipelines, including the AWS-3 and upcoming Upper C-Band auctions.
• Deployment Subsidies: ISPs continue to leverage billions of dollars in federal IIJA/BEAD funding to subsidize rural and high-cost broadband buildouts.

4.3 Rural and Underserved Communities#

While the rollout of BEAD funds has accelerated high-speed infrastructure deployment in rural and underserved areas, the lack of an affordability subsidy like the ACP means that the digital divide remains a significant barrier for lower-income residents in these newly connected areas.

Conclusion: A New Direction for the FCC?#

Anna Gomez’s confirmation successfully ended the FCC’s partisan deadlock and enabled a flurry of ambitious policy actions. Although federal net neutrality regulations were ultimately set aside by the courts in 2025, and the Affordable Connectivity Program expired due to lack of congressional funding, her tenure has been defined by significant milestones. These include the restoration of the FCC's spectrum auction authority via the OBBBA in 2025, the successful completion of new spectrum auctions in 2026, and the implementation of robust consumer data privacy rules. Gomez's background in both public service and private industry has allowed her to navigate these complex regulatory and legal challenges. As the FCC continues to address the digital divide and prepare for the 6G era, Gomez’s presence ensures a balanced, consumer-oriented approach to America's telecommunications future.

References#

• U.S. Senate. (2023). Roll Call Vote 118th Congress - 1st Session (Vote 222). Senate.gov
• Federal Communications Commission. (2023). Statement from Chair Jessica Rosenworcel on the Confirmation of Anna Gomez. FCC.gov
• Federal Communications Commission. (n.d.). Commissioner Anna M. Gomez. FCC.gov
• The Hill. (2023). Senate Confirms Anna Gomez to FCC, Giving Dems Majority. TheHill.com
• Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. (2021). H.R.3684 - Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Congress.gov
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. (2025). Ohio Telecom Ass'n v. FCC, No. 24-3449. Justia Dockets
• Federal Communications Commission. (2024). Safeguarding and Securing the Open Internet, FCC 24-52. FCC.gov
• Federal Communications Commission. (2024). Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). FCC.gov
• Federal Communications Commission. (2025). FCC Spectrum Auction Authority. FCC.gov