Chairman Pai Remarks on the Current Landscape of Telecom Law at Federalist Society Convention

I thought I’d focus on what the Federal Communications Commission is doing to promote US leadership in some of the most promising sectors of our economy. In particular, I’d like to talk about next-generation wireless technology and the space industry, which you may be surprised to learn has key tie-ins with the FCC.

Before getting into the specifics, I thought it would be helpful to walk through some of the first principles that inform and guide my approach to the job as FCC Chairman. First off, I deeply believe in the importance of regulatory humility. History has shown us, without a doubt, that a competitive free market is the most powerful force we have for driving technological innovation and producing value for consumers. The public interest is best served when the private sector has the incentives and freedom to invest and create. Instead of micromanaging markets, government should eliminate unnecessary barriers that can stifle new discoveries and services. And, in particular, the government should aim to minimize regulatory uncertainty, which can deter long-term investment decisions.