Gomez: FCC Should Investigate How Criminals Jam Spectrum to Rob Houses

“We’ve seen some high-profile break-ins that have used jammers in order to disable, for example, Ring cameras,” Gomez said. “That’s really problematic, and I think that there’s something the FCC can do.”

Gomez said she hopes the FCC will consider the issue following the initial onslaught of actions expected now that the agency has a Republican majority with the confirmation of Commissioner Olivia Trusty. Carr appears to support Gomez's push to take on the problem, she added.

Highlighting other areas of agreement, Gomez said commissioners share goals, including “connectivity for everyone in the country,” but “it’s how to get to those goals that can differ.” They need to maintain open lines of communication, she said. “We have to be able to speak to each other” and “negotiate outcomes that work for everyone.”

Gomez and Carr “talk a lot about spectrum,” she said, and have a goal “of finding spectrum for new and innovative uses and to have the most efficient spectrum management that we possibly can.” Additional areas of potential agreement include speeding infrastructure deployment and finding ways to streamline FCC authorizations. “We both are very excited about the opportunities in space, and we talk a lot about that as well."

In addition, the two agree on "national security and the need to have secure equipment, and to ensure that we have good cyber practices” by regulated companies. “There are multiple areas where we do agree.”

Bolton said the Fiber Broadband Association welcomes FCC initiatives to reduce regulation and speed the retirement of legacy copper networks. Gomez said she hadn’t seen anything specific from Carr on the topic but wouldn’t be surprised if it becomes a focus. “It is something [Carr] has talked about,” she said.

Gomez spoke before Carr released a tentative agenda for the July commission meeting (see 2507020036).

She said the FCC must consider consumer interests when green-lighting retirements, because there are still areas of the U.S. where people lack wireless or other connectivity and therefore rely on copper lines. “I want to make sure that we don’t leave people without an option.”

Fiber deployment is critical to U.S. infrastructure, Gomez said. While fixed wireless access and satellite can be the best options in hard-to-serve areas, fixed wireless “has capacity limitations, and it’s more costly to run,” and “satellite cannot be the only solution.” Satellite “has great promise, but it remains unproven at the scale that this administration seems to envision.”

In addition, Gomez welcomed Trusty to the FCC, saying it’s critical for the commission to have a quorum. Trusty “is very well regarded [and] has tremendous expertise,” Gomez said. “It’s really good to have someone with that level of experience and expertise join the commission.” She said that even though she’s now in the minority, much of what the FCC does is traditionally bipartisan.

“While I’m hopeful I can work with my colleagues where I feel like I have to. I will speak out [if the FCC is] going down a path that is either unconstitutional or harmful for consumers.” Under the Trump administration, “we’ve seen the arrest of protesters, retaliation against law firms for who they represent and what they represent, going after universities to get them to alter their curricula.”

The FCC has “weaponized” its licensing authority to clamp down on free speech, control broadcasters and force companies to end diversity, equity and inclusion programs, Gomez said. She added that she has seen a lot she disagrees with and has spoken out repeatedly, and will continue to do so.