OTI Welcomes Khan to FTC, Urges Action on FCC Nominees

Today, the U.S. Senate voted to confirm Lina Khan as a commissioner on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Khan arrives at a pivotal time as the FTC tackles numerous antitrust and consumer protection issues. The agency also faces heightened scrutiny after years of weak enforcement, diminished funding, and understaffing. OTI has long urged the FTC to regain public trust and step up enforcement, particularly in the realm of vertical mergers and data privacy.

On Monday, OTI and more than 50 groups sent a letter to the White House urging President Biden to nominate someone to fill a vacancy at the Federal Communications Commission that has languished since January. By this point in their first terms, Presidents Trump, Obama, and George W. Bush had all nominated FCC chairs.

The following quote can be attributed to Joshua Stager, deputy director of broadband and competition policy at New America’s Open Technology Institute:

“We applaud today’s vote to confirm Lina Khan to the FTC. She is a proven thought leader who has helped jolt antitrust enforcement out of stagnant 1970s thinking. After years of sluggish enforcement—particularly in digital markets—the FTC needs a fresh perspective. We look forward to working with Commissioner Khan.

“Another expert agency that needs a fresh perspective is the Federal Communications Commission—but we’re still waiting for a fifth commissioner and a permanent chair. In the meantime, the FCC remains deadlocked and unable to turn the page from Ajit Pai’s failed tenure. We can’t lose any more time. President Biden needs to get the FCC to full capacity.”