FCC Departures Gut Panel With Big Merger, Investigation Pending

Two members of the Federal Communications Commission announced they’ll depart this week, leaving the agency with three vacancies while it reviews a major media merger and investigates a wireless provider.

Democrat Geoffrey Starks, who announced in March he was stepping down at an unspecified date, plans to leave on Friday. Republican Nathan Simington will also depart at the end of the week.

The departures are unlikely to completely derail the agenda set down by Republican Chairman Brendan Carr, according to according to Blair Levin, an analyst at New Street Research and former FCC staffer. Carr can continue ...