CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) – President-elect Donald Trump has announced additional Cabinet and administration appointments, and two of them are considered good for our region. Two things many in West Virginia are focused on are the lack of broadband technology and the abundance of energy resources.
West Virginia has the worst broadband coverage in the country, and that impacts things like telehealth. FCC member Brendan Carr, who visited West Virginia to address the issues, has now been named chairman of the FCC.
The other candidate is Liberty Energy CEO Chris Wright, who has been named energy secretary. Wright is considered a powerful ally of coal, oil, natural gas and fracking.
The two nominees received great praise.
“Both appointments are very significant. Obviously we have been waiting for the rural broadband network to be completed. We attached great importance to this. But West Virginia could make a real contribution to the energy industry. These are jobs.” “This is the technology and research that comes with it,” said Senator Shelley Moore Capito, (R) West Virginia.
Because Brendan Carr is already a member of the FCC, the president can appoint him chairman without Senate approval. But the Senate must approve Chris Wright as energy secretary. This is not expected to be a problem as the recent Senate now has 53 Republicans and 47 Democrats.
No timeline has been set for any Cabinet nominations or appointments of senior administration officials. Most, but not all, require Senate approval.
