Commissioner Mignon Clyburn served at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from 2009 to 2018. She served her second term as a Democrat and was sworn in on February 19, 2013, following her re-nomination by President Barack Obama and confirmation by the United States Senate. Following her appointment, Clyburn also served as the first Acting Chairwoman of the FCC.

While at the FCC, Commissioner Clyburn committed to closing the digital divide. Specifically, she was an advocate for Lifeline Modernization, which assists low income consumers defray the cost of broadband service, championed diversity in media ownership, initiated Inmate Calling Services reforms, emphasized diversity and inclusion in STEM opportunities, and fought to preserve a free and open internet.

Prior to the FCC, she spent 11 years as a member of the sixth district on the Public Service Commission (PSC) of South Carolina. Prior to the PSC, Clyburn was the publisher and general manager of her family-founded newspaper, the Coastal Times, for 14 years. The Charleston-based weekly newspaper focused primarily on issues affecting the African-American community.