Fewer Texans in Congressional Oversight for Broadcasters

posted on 1.17.2025

- Replacement Named for FCC’s Rosenworcel 

With each new Congress comes a reshuffling of deck chairs for lawmakers on industry oversight committees as veterans claim new assignments more to their liking and freshmen join the fray. This session it means fewer Texans than broadcasters are accustomed to seeing on key panels in the Judiciary and Commerce committees.

Two Texas Republicans, veteran August Pfluger of Midland and freshman Craig Goldman of Arlington, have been named to the Communications and Technology Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

No Texas Democrats were named to this oversight panel, with previous members transferring to other subcommittees.

On the Judiciary Committee Texas is somewhat overrepresented with five Republicans and one Democrat. But only one – Lance Gooden, R-Terrell – was named to the Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet subcommittee which considers questions involving copyright law.

In the Senate, Ted Cruz takes the chairman’s gavel on the Commerce Committee, while both he and John Cornyn continue on the Judiciary Committee.

Senate Staffer Named to Fill Rosenworcel Vacancy

Former FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel is slated to be succeeded on the commission by a longtime policy aide to Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss.

In her role as a senior staffer on the Senate Commerce Committee, Olivia Trusty has been involved in all major policy fights involving the broadcast industry over the past decade.

“She is intimately familiar with the vital role local television and radio stations play in communities nationwide and the significant regulatory obstacles our industry faces,” said NAB President/CEO Curtis LeGeyt.

Once Trusty is confirmed by the Senate, she’ll join the agency now chaired by Brendan Carr and Republicans will have a 3-2 majority – much sooner in the new administration than the Democrats did in the last because of a long delay in filling a vacancy.

This makes it likely the FCC will be able to move much faster in enacting the new administration’s policies than the previous one did.

DC Agenda

These leadership changes among players overseeing broadcast policy heighten the stakes for TAB’s slate of meetings with the state’s 40-member congressional delegation over several days the first week of March.

TAB is arranging for dozens of Radio and TV station owners and managers to travel to DC the first week of March to advocate for a competitive playing field with Big Tech and demonstrate the industry’s extraordinary work in the public interest of the local communities stations are licensed to serve.

Questions? Contact Oscar Rodriguez or call (512) 322-9944.

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