Mignon Clyburn was part of the Democratic majority that approved the net neutrality rules in 2015, and has been a vocal critic of their repeal. | Larry French/Getty Images Obama nominee Mignon Clyburn stepping down from FCC

FCC Democratic Commissioner Mignon Clyburn announced plans to step down from the agency Tuesday, ending an eight-year tenure focused on the needs of low-income and minority communities.

Clyburn, an Obama nominee who joined the FCC in 2009, made the announcement at an FCC meeting. She did not say what she plans to do next but said she would depart the commission before its next scheduled meeting on May 10.


"I’ve done all I know to do. And it’s time for me to serve in another way," she said.

Clyburn was part of the Democratic majority that approved the net neutrality rules in 2015, and has been a vocal critic of their repeal in December by the agency's Republican leadership under Chairman Ajit Pai. The rules required internet service providers like Comcast and Verizon to treat all web traffic equally as it passes through their networks.

During her time at the FCC, which included a stint as acting chairwoman in 2013, Clyburn advocated for the needs of marginalized groups. She pushed to lower the cost of prison inmate phone calls and expand the low-income phone subsidy program, Lifeline, to cover broadband service. She was particularly passionate about the prison call issue, saying inmates are subject to exorbitant rates that make it hard to stay in touch with family members.

But her efforts sometimes struggled to gain traction. FCC-approved regulations that would have capped rates for local and long-distance prison calls were struck down by a federal appeals court in 2017. Clyburn, who attended oral arguments in the case, pledged to continue the fight in Congress and at the state level.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has already recommended Geoffrey Starks, an assistant chief in the FCC's enforcement bureau, to the White House to nominate for Clyburn's seat when she departs, POLITICO reported last month. Presidents traditionally defer to the Senate minority leader when filling opposing-party seats on the commission.

Speculation swirled around Clyburn’s political ambitions in 2016, when she did a 10-city “Connecting Communities” tour and conference. She was seen as a possible candidate for the South Carolina House seat held by her father, longtime Democratic Rep. Jim Clyburn, but she's remained coy about about any potential plans for a congressional run.