Tom Johnson

Husband. Dad. Catholic. Former FCC General Counsel. From Jersey. Practicing appellate and telecom law. Better half: @_katherinebeck.

[Tom Johnson @TomMJohnsonJr]

Any relation to Bickel of Least Dangerous Branch fame?

[Tom Johnson @TomMJohnsonJr]

The “Express Comment” feature that the Chairman links to below is a great way for ordinary citizens to weigh in on important public policy issues like this

[Brendan Carr @BrendanCarrFCC]

If you don’t agree that The View is “bona fide news,” you can comment here [just enter 26-124 in the proceeding field]

If you agree with Disney that The View is “bona fide news,” you can also submit a comment there.

https://t.co/9Zr2tAOth4

[Tom Johnson @TomMJohnsonJr]

Proud to represent @CTIA in this case and advocate for a strong federal preemption framework for interstate services like broadband.

[Ajit Pai @AjitPai]

Some states have sought to regulate economic activities that are inherently national in nature and traditionally regulated at the federal level. Yesterday, @CTIA submitted an amicus brief to #SCOTUS arguing that "preemption should be 'presumed' in such 'primarily . . . federal' areas." You can read our brief here: https://t.co/zOupkKdZY1

[Tom Johnson @TomMJohnsonJr]

Beautiful day to argue in the Second Circuit. #appellateplaces

[Tom Johnson @TomMJohnsonJr]

So often PE firms buy a “brand” restaurant and then hollow out the soul of the place.

This effort from Daland Corp shows that investment in the culture and quality that made a place memorable is also profitable.

Build it and they will come.

[Tom Johnson @TomMJohnsonJr]

Proud to have argued and prevailed in the Fourth Circuit on this challenge to Maryland’s protectionist, environmental speech code.

The court correctly concluded a law that allowed you to trumpet the benefits of energy sourced from Chicago or Baltimore—but not Texas or North Dakota—could not survive even intermediate scrutiny for commercial speech. #appellatetwitter

[Bloomberg Law @BLaw]

A Maryland law governing how energy suppliers can market renewables likely violates the First Amendment, a federal appeals panel ruled Friday. https://t.co/kl8BPfajzA

[Tom Johnson @TomMJohnsonJr]

Adam would be an inspired choice for this role.

Adam was in the trenches during the first Trump admin with me defending the FCC’s authority over section 230 reform to rein in Big Tech.

He would be a true America First populist antitrust enforcer.

[The Capitol Forum @Capitol_Forum]

The race to lead the DOJ’s Antitrust Division is heating up.

The Capitol Forum’s latest scoop examines the emergence of FCC General Counsel Adam Candeub as a leading candidate for the role.

Read more: https://t.co/jXsxWsoiw1

[Tom Johnson @TomMJohnsonJr]

@IsaiahLCarter Shere Khan as a ruthless CEO? King Louie as a bartender? Inspired

[Tom Johnson @TomMJohnsonJr]

@AjitPai @NYTGames While we’re at it, spelling bee always rejects “pinna” or the fleshy part of the outer ear— FCC engineers know what I’m talking about!

[Tom Johnson @TomMJohnsonJr]

@DocBrownLloyd A new book? Like you always said, if you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything!

[Tom Johnson @TomMJohnsonJr]

@DavidLat The best part of this post was the opportunity for one more “Dewey” pun after all these years

[Tom Johnson @TomMJohnsonJr]

@TradVat2 Goes for partners and top govt lawyers too. Nothing is a surer sign you've made it than being the guy who gets to tinker with the intro.

[Tom Johnson @TomMJohnsonJr]

Translation: the FCC is focused on ways to empower local TV stations that represent the values of communities across the country, not just producers in Hollywood and New York

[POLITICO @politico]

How Brendan Carr is building Trump-friendly broadcasting behemoths https://t.co/adkk0Zg97h

[Tom Johnson @TomMJohnsonJr]

@AjitPai @DireStraits77 @direstraitshq @MarkKnopfler @DavidKnopfler @John_Illsley @pick_withers They don’t give a damn about any [recorder] playing band— it’s not what they call rock and roll

[Tom Johnson @TomMJohnsonJr]

@NathanLeamerDC @AjitPai_

[Tom Johnson @TomMJohnsonJr]

@AjitPai I think a poll is in order--let the people decide!

[Tom Johnson @TomMJohnsonJr]

I've heard personal stories of people who have used this hotline and might go as far as to say it was the FCC's crowning achievement under @AjitPai.

Among other things, lots of thought was given as to what shortcode would be most memorable and easy for people to dial. It's great to see the results back up the choice.

[Ajit Pai @AjitPai]

When the @FCC designated 988 as a 3-digit number for suicide prevention in 2019-2020, I knew it would save lives. And I hoped we would someday have empirical evidence of how many.

That day has come. From 988's activation in July 2022 to December 2024, researchers just reported in @JAMA_current that there were "4,372 fewer suicides of adolescents and young adults, ages 15 to 34, than had been projected." And to ensure that this decrease was 988-related, they measured relative usage of the hotline by state, making a "striking" finding: "10 states with the largest increases in 988 calls experienced an 18.2 percent reduction in observed suicides compared with expected suicides."

Filled with gratitude to the legislators, executive branch officials, advocates, FCC staff, and @988Lifeline calltakers who helped us reach this milestone. So many more Americans are living today because of all you've done. https://t.co/XMc2nhpGwL

[Tom Johnson @TomMJohnsonJr]

@RonDeSantis Enter Sandman alone should bump them into the Top 20

[Tom Johnson @TomMJohnsonJr]

The people and politicians who oppose the Paramount-WBD deal really reinforce my priors that the deal will benefit competition and viewpoint diversity in Hollywood and move the needle back to good old-fashioned family-friendly entertainment

[Joe Flint @JBFlint]

Jane Fonda on WBD-Paramount shareholder vote:
"Today’s decision by Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders to advance a merger with Paramount is a serious setback — for our industry, for the workers who sustain it, for consumers, and for the fundamental democratic values that depend on a diverse and independent media landscape.

But this merger is not a done deal — and this fight is far from over.

We’ve seen time and again that sustained pressure works. Efforts to challenge consolidation, from the proposed Tegna–Nexstar Media Group deal to scrutiny of Live Nation Entertainment and Ticketmaster, have demonstrated that coordinated legal, political, and public advocacy can change outcomes, especially when state Attorneys General step in to protect the public interest.

We will continue pressing forward on every front.

A handful of powerful decision-makers should not be allowed to quietly reshape American media, culture, and creative life without accountability. We will keep speaking out for the workers and artists at the heart of this industry, and for the public, which deserves more than an ever-shrinking circle of control over what they see, hear, and read.

This fight continues. And we fully intend to win."

[Tom Johnson @TomMJohnsonJr]

@josh_hammer @BrendanCarrFCC The FCC in this admin is really a template of what a populist, America First, working class and conservative values policy agenda should look like, in the critical arena of media, tech, and telecom policy