Chairman Pai Remarks to the Reason Foundation

While selecting me as 2020’s recipient of the Savas Award could fairly be called into question, your timing of this celebration could not be more perfect. This award was established to highlight innovative efforts to, quote, “provide public services through partnerships with private organizations.” You could make a strong case that this has been the best two weeks for public-private partnerships ever. For starters, SpaceX just delivered four astronauts to the International Space Station. If a historic space flight weren’t enough, Pfizer and BioNTech just announced that their vaccine candidate has proven to be 95% effective in preventing COVID-19. 

Even though our policy agenda [at the Federal Communications Commission] has been broader and deeper and more aggressive than any FCC in recent history, it’s been animated by two objectives above all others: closing the digital divide and promoting U.S. leadership in 5G, the next generation of wireless technology.

So here’s the bottom line. One of my guiding principles as FCC Chairman has been to have faith in free markets and free minds. Time and again, that faith has been rewarded. The Internet economy in the United States is stronger than ever. We’re pushing ahead in 5G. I want to thank the Reason Foundation once again for honoring me, but honestly, the people we should all thank are America’s innovators and entrepreneurs, those who challenge the status quo and create and build.