Biden appoints acting heads of FCC, FTC

Jan. 21 (UPI) -- President Joe Biden on Thursday named new acting heads for the Federal Trade Commission and Federal Communications Commission.

Jessica Rosenworcel, who has served as a Democratic commissioner on the FCC for the past eight years, will take over as acting chairwoman. She previously served as the senior communications counsel for the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.

"I am honored to be designated as the acting chairwoman of the Federal Communications Commission by President Biden," Rosenworcel said in a statement. "I thank the president for the opportunity to lead an agency with such a vital mission and talented staff. It is a privilege to serve the American people and work on their behalf to expand the reach of communications opportunity in the digital age."

She takes over for former President Donald Trump's FCC chairman, Ajit Pai, who stepped down upon Biden's inauguration.

With the FCC shift to a Democratic majority, net neutrality, which was ushered in by former President Barack Obama's administration to bar Internet service providers from slowing or throttling speeds and offering "fast lanes" for large companies at higher prices, is expected to be reinstated.

In December 2017, Pai voted with fellow Republican commissioners to repeal net neutrality beginning in June 2018.

Biden also named Rebecca Kelly Slaughter as chairwoman of the FTC after serving on the commission for nearly three years. Before that she worked as chief counsel to Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer.

"The best part of serving at the FTC is working with our incredibly dedicated and talented staff. Their expertise, creativity, and steadfast commitment have filled me with confidence that we will be able to meet the formidable challenges facing our markets and the American people today," Slaughter said in a statement.

She will replace Trump appointee Joseph Simons, who led the FTC in a lawsuit accusing Facebook of anticompetitive conduct in December.

Sommer Brokaw contributed to this report.