Anna M. Gomez
FCC Commissioner
Commissioner Anna M. Gomez is the first Latina-American to be confirmed to the FCC in over two decades. She believes the FCC does best when its work honors the people it serves.
Commissioner Gomez is committed to ensuring we have a vibrant, strong, competitive telecommunications and media marketplace that promotes U.S. economic prosperity and security while also meeting the needs of all consumers.
There is much work to be done to ensure that every person in every community, regardless of geography or income, has access to high-speed broadband. She has experienced the fear of not being able to afford a telephone bill and knows what it means to risk the loss of connection. Ensuring that everyone in rural, Tribal, suburban, and urban communities can get and stay connected is critical to next-century success for us all. As a Latina American, she brings her perspective to the Commission on ways to address the needs of all communities—including the Latino community.
She knows we must be vigilant about protecting consumers. From spam calls and scam texts, to promoting localism and diverse media ownership, to ensuring the internet is open and that consumers can go where they want online without limits, Commissioner Gomez believes consumers’ interests must lead communications policymaking. That also means ensuring our first responders can communicate in times of crisis. Her years of working with public safety leaders and first responders has given her an appreciation of their unique—and vital—communications needs. It also means ensuring our connections are secure and resilient.
Anna brings over 30 years of public and private sector experience in domestic and international communications law and policy to her position. Commissioner Gomez most recently served as a Senior Advisor for International Information and Communications Policy in the Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy at the Department of State where she led U.S. preparations for the International Telecommunication Union World Radiocommunication Conference 2023 (WRC-23).
She served as the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Deputy Administrator from 2009 to 2013, where she led efforts that resulted in a new $7 billion public safety broadband network program. She also served for 12 years in various positions at the FCC, including as Deputy Chief of the International Bureau and as Senior Legal Advisor to then-Chairman William E. Kennard. Commissioner Gomez also served briefly as Counsel to the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Subcommittee on Communication, and as Deputy Chief of Staff of the National Economic Council during the Clinton Administration. Prior to joining the State Department in 2023, Commissioner Gomez worked in private practice focusing on telecommunications law.
Born in Orlando, Florida, Commissioner Gomez spent her childhood in Bogota, Colombia before her family relocated to New Jersey. She now resides in Virginia. Commissioner Gomez earned her B.A. in Pre-Law from Pennsylvania State University and her J.D. from George Washington University Law School.
Panel Information
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2024
3:15 PM EST
MEDIA REPRESENTATION AND DISINFORMATION SESSION: SHAPING LATINO NARRATIVES
The accurate and fair representation of Latinos in media is crucial for shaping public perception and empowering the Latino community. Media portrayals play a significant role in how communities are viewed and treated in society. When the media portrays Latinos negatively or inaccurately, it can lead to widespread misinformation and perpetuate harmful stereotypes.
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