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Geoffrey Starks, the senior Democrat on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), has announced his plans to vacate his seat this spring.

By: Brad Randall, Broadband Communities

FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks has announced plans to resign his seat this spring.

Starks, one of two Democrats seated as an FCC Commissioner, released a statement Tuesday confirming his plans to vacate the seat.

The statement, posted on the FCC’s website, did not include a reasoning for his decision.

He called serving as an FCC Commissioner “the honor of my life” and said President Donald Trump has already been notified about his decision.

“Over the next few weeks, I look forward to working with the chairman and my fellow commissioners, and all FCC staff, to further the mission of the agency,” Starks stated.

Starks was first nominated to serve as an FCC commissioner by Trump. Later, he was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate, in January 2019.

In 2023, Starks was nominated by former President Joe Biden, and later confirmed by the Senate, for a second term.

He will be leaving office well before his term expires in June 2027.

Chairman Brendan Carr, a Republican, thanked Starks for his service as an FCC commissioner in a follow-up statement.

“Commissioner Starks put in the work and leaves an impressive legacy of accomplishments in public service,” Carr stated. “I always learned a lot from him and benefited from the many events we held together.”

The latest resignation will leave Ana M. Gomez as the lone FCC commissioner affiliated with the Democratic Party.

Earlier this year, former FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, a Democrat, also resigned from her seat, leaving a vacancy that has yet to be filled.

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