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Jimbo101

(776 posts) Thu Jan 26, 2017, 02:53 PM Jan 2017

FCC Chairman Pai vows to close broadband digital divide

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2017/01/fcc-chairman-pai-vows-to-close-broadband-digital-divide/

Pai voted against previous broadband expansion orders, but has plans of his own.

On his first full day as Federal Communications Commission Chairman, Republican Ajit Pai yesterday spoke to FCC staff and said one of his top priorities will be bringing broadband to all Americans.

"One of the most significant things that I’ve seen during my time here is that there is a digital divide in this country—between those who can use cutting-edge communications services and those who do not," Pai said (transcript). "I believe one of our core priorities going forward should be to close that divide—to do what’s necessary to help the private sector build networks, send signals, and distribute information to American consumers, regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or anything else. We must work to bring the benefits of the digital age to all Americans."

Pai promised to "hear all points of view—to approach every issue with a literal open door and a figurative open mind," as the FCC "confronts this and many other challenges.

Under previous Chairman Tom Wheeler, Pai voted against some items designed to bring broadband to poor people and rural areas. In March 2016, he voted against an FCC order that updated the 31-year-old Lifeline phone subsidy program so that poor people can use a $9.25 monthly household subsidy from the Universal Service Fund to purchase home Internet or mobile broadband. Pai said he was willing to vote for the plan if its budget was limited to $1.75 billion a year, but the final order set it at $2.25 billion.