FCC Commissioner Michael O'Rielly at The American Enterprise Institute

My goal is to discuss four discrete matters facing the Federal Communications Commission. These items are rather disparate, but given their timeliness, I hope you will forgive me. To the best of my ability, I plan to cover certain aspects of:

(1) Municipal Broadband: The FCC lacks authority to lift state-imposed bans and restrictions. There is a long track record of projects overpromising and underperforming, leaving taxpayers holding the bag I am concerned about the community-wide impact of overbuilding existing providers, particularly in rural areas that receive federal universal service support. Some restrictions that are not all that problematic or unreasonable.

(2) Network Neutrality and the Universal Service Fund: If the FCC decides to reclassify broadband as a telecommunications service, broadband providers (as telecommunications carriers) will be required by statute to pay into the Universal Service Fund. That means consumer broadband rates will go up.

(3) Over-The-Top Video Offerings: I am at a loss as to why the Commission is considering redefining over-the-top video programming providers who offer streams of prescheduled programming, as Multichannel Video Programming Distributors (MVPDs). My suspicion and concern is that this proceeding is just another attempt to exert authority over the
Internet.

(4) Broadcast Spectrum Incentive Auction: I firmly believe that we should endeavor to hold the auction as soon as possible since there is a great need and demand for more licensed spectrum in the marketplace. But getting the auction structured correctly is more important than when it is held.