Washington — The administration has announced four nominees to fill out the Federal Trade Commission — DC antitrust attorney Joe Simons would lead the agency. The other Republican nominees would be Senator Cornyn’s chief counsel Noah Phillips and Delta airlines executive Christine Wilson. Rohit Chopra, a consumer advocate would fill the Democratic slot. The FTC has only had two commissioners — Republican Maureen Ohlhausen and Democrat Terrell McSweeny — running the agency.
The Computer & Communications Industry Association has supported open competition for 45 years and has supported regulators in cases involving IBM, AT&T and others over the years. The following can be attributed to CCIA President & CEO Ed Black:
“An FTC with a fully staffed Board will benefit the agency’s many important endeavors from protecting consumers from identity theft to antitrust enforcement to reining in patent trolls shaking down small businesses.
“It will be helpful to have a full panel of Commissioners who understand how new technology enhances consumer welfare, but also how consumers need to be protected from those who might misuse it. A fully staffed board of commissioners would also contribute to empowering the agency’s efforts to promote and harmonize sound antitrust enforcement globally.”