The chair does not have unlimited power, of course. Congress can expand or reduce the FCC’s authority by passing new laws or eliminating existing ones. FCC decisions are routinely challenged in court, and a recent Supreme Court ruling limited the regulatory authority of federal agencies.

Carr wants the FCC to regulate less, at least when it comes to Internet service providers. “The FCC is a New Deal–era agency. Its history of regulation tends to reflect the view that the federal government should impose heavy-handed regulation rather than relying on competition and market forces to produce optimal outcomes,” he wrote.

The FCC, he said, “should engage in a serious top-to-bottom review of its regulations and take steps to rescind any that are overly cumbersome or outdated,” and “focus its efforts on creating a market-friendly regulatory environment that fosters innovation and competition from a wide range of actors, including cable-based, broadband-based, and satellite-based Internet providers.”

Chris Lewis, president and CEO of consumer advocacy group Public Knowledge, told Ars that Carr appears to be a leading candidate for the chairmanship “because of his experience and active presence in trying to chart a course for Republicans on telecom policy,” with the Project 2025 chapter being a prime example.

Public Knowledge generally argues that the FCC should take a bigger role in regulating Internet providers. “The public expects that there is an agency protecting consumers over communications networks and I think it would be wise for the new majorities and new administration to be clearheaded about that,” Lewis said.

Carr targets Big Tech and online speech

The FCC should have four primary goals, Carr wrote. Those goals are “reining in Big Tech, promoting national security, unleashing economic prosperity, and ensuring FCC accountability and good governance.”